Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area recently hosted the fifth annual Red Rock Rendezvous presented by Mountain Gear and North Face. This world-class rock climbing event and festival was attended by over 1,000 climbers from across the country, including some of the most accomplished climbers in the world. Las Vegas, Nevada is proud to play a starring annual role in the process of raising the profile of rock climbing as a sport. The majestic cliffs of Red Rock Canyon give us that opportunity!

Since its inception five years ago, Red Rock Rendezvous has offered clinics for advanced, intermediate, and beginning climbers. The 2008 climbing festival also raised more than $15,000 for various non-profit organizations including Friends of Red Rock. This terrific local event provides a great opportunity for Las Vegas residents to enjoy a beautiful weekend at Red Rock Canyon and to sample a sport they can enjoy in their own backyard year round. Next year’s event will feature an expanded version of the Intro to Climbing classes that will include all your gear! Las Vegas, Nevada is so much more than gambling and nightlife. The truth is, Southern Nevada is one of the best places in the country to enjoy outdoor recreation and sport. The Michelle Sterling Las Vegas Real Estate Team is always talking to clients about the Las Vegas that awaits new residents “beyond the neon”.

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.

Carroll Shelby and Ford Motor Company came together back in 1962 to create Shelby Automotive, which in turn transformed the Ford Mustang into a muscle car of historic proportions. The magic continues right here in Las Vegas as Mr. Shelby celebrates his 85th birthday and the introduction of the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR.

Each Shelby GT500KR starts out as a GT500, built at AutoAlliance International Inc., in Flat Rock, Michigan. From there, the GT’s are shipped to Shelby Automobile’s facility at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Every GT500KR is then outfitted with a Racing Performance Pack, custom exhaust and a special short-throw shifter. Further additions and refinements create a hand customized product that gets delivered to each customer in an enclosed transporter. Pretty serious stuff!

First unveiled at the 2007 New York International Auto Show, the new GT500KR packs a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine with total output of 540 horsepower. The 500KR (King of the Road) is already being touted as the most powerful production Mustang ever produced. As you might expect, the new GT will be available (this spring) at specially selected Ford dealerships only. Pricetag? About $60,000 (if you can get one). Production is limited to 1,000 units so you really shouldn’t hesitate if you’re serious about owning this monster.

About Shelby Automobiles, Inc.

Shelby Automobiles operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in North Las Vegas. The company builds the Cobra 427 S/C, Cobra 289 FIA and street Cobra component vehicles, as well as a variety of pre and post-title Shelbys based on the current generation Ford Mustang. The website address is www.shelbyautos.com.

Would you believe that Las Vegas offers great skiing and snowboarding just 45 minutes from the MGM Grand? When I try to tell people this they think I’m just kidding around. But the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort is the real thing, with a base lodge that sits at 8,500 feet while two main chairlifts take skiers and snowboarders up another 1,000 feet. Believe it or not, you can see the snow capped summit from the Las Vegas Strip, provided you actually leave the blackjack table and go outside! The ski resort is located within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and operates under a special-use permit of the U.S. Forest Service.

Enough about the location, how are the conditions? For starters, even though Las Vegas receives 325 sunny days a year from mother nature, that still leaves 40 days a year for other weather conditions. Case in point; LV Ski & Snowboard reports 31 inches of new snow over the last 5 days! The current base is 57 inches of packed powder and February and March are the best months of the year for new snow. The resort also features The Big Horn Cafe, The Bristlecone Bar and The Sports Shop with a full selection of high-quality rental items. Snow enthusiasts can choose from 11 total trails and a 500 foot intermediate half-pipe.

Although many people don’t realize it, one of the best reasons to purchase a new Las Vegas home is the wide range of outstanding opportunities across Southern Nevada to enjoy outdoor sports. The Michelle Sterling Las Vegas Real Estate Team is fully prepared to present every facet of our outstanding city. Give us a call at 888-349-2595.

It’s that time of year again (who knew?) when people in less fortunate locals have to concern themselves with SAD. Oh my gosh, what exactly is SAD? My first guess was that it stood for “Straight At the Dealer”, a chain reaction caused by too many losing hands at the Blackjack table. Can’t you just see it? The frustration builds and builds until you give up and throw your cards Straight At the Dealer (SAD). No?? Ok, would you believe that it stands for “Seasonal Affective Disorder”? Apparently this is serious stuff in certain parts of the country (like Buffalo for example), where clinical depression creeps up on people in the winter months due to late sunrises, cloudy skies and shortened days. Are you ready for this? The region of the country you live in can impact your risk of suffering from depression based on lack of sunlight. Does this mean I should stop playing “21″ and go outside more? I certainly hope not.

Personally, I’m all about late sunrises. You see, I’m a jedi-class webmaster, and a nocturnal creature by nature, maneuvering through the inner-most reaches of the World Wide Web, mostly at night. But this can get a little stressful, so I like to break the tension by patronizing any one of several world-class “after hours” clubs, and believe me, Vegas has a few. Anyhow, late sunrises are great for me because there’s nothing worse than exiting an incredibly dark establishment into a disgustingly bright morning. I haven’t yet found a pair of sunglasses, at any price, that sufficiently save me from this fate. What can you do?

In any event, back to our story. In the United States, SAD is (thankfully) about five times more prevalent in the northern tier of states (places like Minnesota I guess), and having recently checked the map, I can tell you that we’re safe and secure from SAD in Southern Nevada. Before you start taking this whole issue as lightly (no pun intended) as I obviously am, realize that no less an authority than the Columbia University Medical Center has spent serious research time (and dollars) shining-a-light on this subject. They even have a “Center for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms” at Columbia Medical that analyzes these issues in-depth (for reasons I’ll never understand). What could they possibly deduce about light and rhythm at Columbia that you couldn’t understand intuitively after one night at Tao, Tabu or Spearmint Rhino? Personally, I’m wondering why they haven’t put laboratory mice in clear plexiglas containers right underneath the pink and red Circus Circus neon clown marquee. Talk about intensive light treatment! It’s hard to understand what a bright proposal this is (unless, of course, you’ve been to Circus Circus), but maybe they just don’t do that kind of thing, even to mice, even at Columbia Medical.

Are you ready for the great news? The NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has actually ranked cities according to the percentage of daylight hours when the sun is actually shining. No, I’m absolutely not joking. Doesn’t that make you feel good about paying your federal taxes? I heard a rumor that the study was secretly requested (and partially funded) by the PGA Tour and a consortium of sun-care companies led by Hawaiian Tropic. In any event, let’s take a look at the results, shall we?

SUNNIEST Big Cities: LAS VEGAS (85 percent); Phoenix (85 percent); Sacramento, Calif. (78 percent); Los Angeles (73 percent); Miami (70 percent)

DARKEST Big Cities: Seattle (43 percent); Pittsburgh (45 percent); Portland, Ore. (48 percent); Buffalo, N.Y. (48 percent); Cleveland (49 percent)

As you can see, Las Vegas is officially ranked at the very top of major metropolitan areas nationwide for daylight hours when the sun is actually shining. Apparently this is very important for people that live a lifestyle completely unlike my own. What can I say except I’m happy for them?? In the meantime, I’m going to keep the blinds closed (until it gets dark outside), because moving to Cleveland is just totally out of the question……

The Michelle Sterling Las Vegas Real Estate Team just felt like having a little fun with this blog post….and we hope you did too!

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!

What do Locals do in Las Vegas for Entertainment?

Las Vegas IS the strip – 100 out of 100 people would say that if they don’t live here…but what do locals do for entertainment?

I am a 15-year resident of this fantastic, diverse city but I personally only go to the strip if I am showing a client property or if I have family in town…I know…hard to believe, right? There is so much to do here; most of which does not include Las Vegas Boulevard….really…

I live in South Summerlin and am less than 1 hour to skiing in the winter at Lee Canyon which is located on Mount Charleston. I also live less than 15 minutes from the best hiking in the west next to the Grand Canyon at the Red Rock Conservation Area and less than 45 minutes from the most amazing architectural wonder of the world at Hoover Dam. Would you believe that it’s only a four hour drive to the Pacific Ocean in California? I’m also fortunate to live just five minutes from one of the best restaurants in the world with world-class-chefs Michael and Wendy Jordan at Rosemary’s. No…not THAT Michael Jordan but this Michael Jordan is gaining nearly just about as much respect in the restaurant world as the other MJ gained in basketball!

Here’s a snapshot of this restaurant’s 2007 awards and accolades:

“Restauranteur of the Year” awarded to Chefs Michael & Wendy Jordan by the Nevada Restaurant Association.

“Best Gourmet Restaurant.” Awarded by the Las Vegas Review-Journal 2007 Best of Las Vegas Awards; Eight Years Running!

ZAGAT 2007 - Rosemary’s Restaurant keeps #1 spot in the Top Food, Las Vegas category.

Las Vegas Restaurants - Rosemary’s Restaurant

This fantastic restaurant is not on the famous Las Vegas Strip – not even close – it’s located about 8 miles west on Sahara Avenue; 1 mile from the best-selling master-planned community in the country from 2000 to present; Summerlin.

There’s also the amazing $1 Billion Dollar brand new Red Rock Casino, Resort, Spa that has 10 restaurants, a 62 lane bowling center, 10 movie theatres and all of the casino games one would expect on the strip.

www.redrocklasvegas.com

Over in Henderson (15 minutes south east of The Strip) there are many first-class restaurants and entertainment venues as well. Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa is home to the famous American Casino series which aired on the Travel Channel for 2 years. This luxurious hotel boasts 9 fantastic restaurants, Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford’s “The Whiskey” bar and is connected to a cobble-brick, street of shops (over 60 boutiques) and 6 additional restaurants at “The District”.

www.greenvalleyranchresort.com
The District at Green Valley Ranch

With all the fantastic things to do on and off The Strip it is clear that Las Vegas has much, much more to offer for its locals and for people that want a second home in the most amazing, diverse city in the world!

Mike Antos 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 Mike at 702-373-3240.

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.

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!

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!

The Platinum Condo/Hotel Las Vegas is rapidly becoming a hot spot for locals to relax and unwind in addition to the valued guests. Located just one block off the Las Vegas Strip at the corner of Flamingo Avenue and Koval Lane, Platinum Las Vegas resort-hotel features the WELL Spa, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a hot poolside nightclub. The Platinum Resort is currently featuring “movies beside the pool” every Friday and Saturday night (8pm) through October 31st on the pool deck. Enjoy a specially created outdoor movie-menu and relax with comfortable outdoor seating and luxurious surroundings as you take-in the feature films. Here’s the schedule for the next few weeks:

● Friday, September 7: Friday Night Lights, Linkin Park
● Saturday, September 8: The Waterboy, Incubus

● Friday, September 14: Devil Wears Prada, Destiny’s Child
● Saturday, September 15:The Recruit, Devo

● Friday, September 21: The Hustler, The Police
● Saturday, September 22: Inside Man, Queen

● Friday, September 28: Viva Las Vegas, Prince live from Vegas
● Saturday, September 29: We Are Marshall, Dave Matthews Band

As a resident of Las Vegas, you can expect to enjoy a wide selection of recreational opportunities at our fabulous resort-hotels. Believe me, we don’t leave all the fun and excitement to the tourists! The purchase of a Las Vegas home is your “go pass” to everything fabulous about the Las Vegas experience.

Top Flite Golf Balls and Treasure Island Las Vegas are teaming-up to present the You vs. Vegas Sweepstakes. It’s no big deal, just a simple forty footer with half of Vegas breathing down you neck! On August 9th a randomly selected golfer from the pool of entries will roll a big one for $1 million in prize money. This isn’t the PGA Tour and you shouldn’t expect peace and quiet so you can concentrate! Top Flite and Treasure Island are packing the crowd with showgirls, celebrity athletes, TI Pirates and every rowdy tourist they can find. Talk about pressure! Top Flite is introducing the new D2 Golf Ball in true Vegas fashion, with a big pile of cash for the winner. The Michelle Sterling Las Vegas Real Estate Team wouldn’t miss a party like this! We’ll be there to talk about the fantastic selection of Las Vegas golf homes for sale throughout the Las Vegas Valley. How do you feel about spectacular fairway views? Give us a call at 888-349-2595 and we’ll get together on the putting green and talk about it.

Bran Castle, one of Romania’s top tourist attractions and a must-see for fans of literature’s most famous vampire, is up for sale.

Those willing to brave a price tag that could exceed $100 million will get the keys to the castle that inspired settings in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” said Michael Gardner, chairman of Baytree Capital, the New York private-investment firm handling the sale.

The building in the Transylvanian region of Romania has become known throughout the world as Dracula’s Castle, and is currently being used as a museum, he said.

But Archduke Dominic Habsburg and family, the current owners of the property, aren’t looking for just any old investor to bite. The firm was brought on to not only sell the place, but to develop a plan for it as well, Gardner said.

Gardner said the castle and the land around it is ripe for the development of tourist amenities including hotel accommodations and spas, all while “keeping the castle as centerpiece of the resort area.” Already, 450,000 people visit the castle annually, he said.

The accession of Romania into the European Union earlier this year will likely bring more tourist activity in the future, Gardner said. New infrastructure will make it easier to get to the attraction, he said, but currently there aren’t many places for tourists to stay.

Archduke Dominic chose the New York firm to create a plan for the property because he felt it would be done so with “the utmost sensitivity towards my family, the castle’s history, and our ties to the country,” he said in a news release.

“Aside from the castle’s connection to one of the most famous novels ever written, Bran Castle is steeped in critical events of European history dating from the 14th Century to the present,” the Archduke said.

The Archduke’s grandmother, Queen Marie, lived in the castle in the early part of the 20th Century, according to the release. The communist regime seized the 700-year-old castle in 1948, and it became a museum in the 1950s. It was returned to the family in 2006.

You can read the entire article in The Real Estate Journal here.

If you are interested in purchasing Dracula’s castle by all means contact us so that we may put you in touch with the listing agent for this property!

Or if your budget is less than $100 million please contact one of our Las Vegas Real Estate Agents so that we can help find you a more, ahem, appropriate Las Vegas Home.

We promise not to bite

A LAS VEGAS REALTOR IS STANDING BY FOR YOUR CALL

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.

Each month MS Las Vegas Real Estate receives phone calls from people looking to get into the lucrative Las Vegas real estate industry. We now keep a list of our competitors phone numbers handy so we can refer those would be Las Vegas Realtors who don’t exactly fit into our “corporate culture” to a more appropriate home.

We’re kidding of course! Well we’re sort of kidding. Yeah we’re kidding. Maybe…..for the most part.

Watch the video below to see what we are talking about.

Also please call The Michelle Sterling Team at Prudential Americana Group, REALTORS at 888-349-2595 if one of the Las Vegas real estate agents in the video below arrives to take you out to view properties.

There can be no question that Las Vegas luxury real estate has risen to world-class status right along with the golfing, dining, nightlife and shopping to be found in our fabulous city. Hey, did someone say shopping? Ask yourself this question…..what good does it do to have a sumptuous Las Vegas luxury home if you can’t supplement it with the appropriate trimmings? The MS Las Vegas Real Estate Blog has taken on the tremendous responsibility of keeping readers up-to-date on the latest in luxury goods to accompany your palatial estate in the hottest city in the galaxy. Past blog posts have highlighted the latest in diamond encrusted satellite cell phones, the local Lamborghini dealership and luxury suites at The Palms, just to name a few. Now it’s time to feature the latest in luxury wrist candy, the new limited edition Chanel J12 Casino timepiece. How limited is this edition of the coveted Chanel J12 watch collection? The only Chanel stores in the world to provide access to the one dozen J12 Casino’s in the world……are the two Chanel stores in Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas. That’s right, there are only 12 of these incredible J12’s available for purchase. If you have to ask, believe me you can’t afford it ($56,000). Absolutely stunning craftsmanship and design by Chanel has created a J12 evocative of a distinctly French 37-slot roulette wheel. The bezel consists of 18 rubies, 18 black ceramic stones and one emerald, all in baguette, as if you had to ask. Designed exclusively for the Las Vegas Chanel locations, it should come as no surprise that Las Vegas is one of the strongest local markets in the universe for the entire Chanel J12 line. Measuring out at 41-millimeters, the J12 Casino makes a statement that is impossible to ignore, just like the city itself. Ready to make your statement in Las Vegas? The Michelle Sterling Team at Prudential Americana is ready to roll right with you. We’re major players…..and you?

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.

Las Vegas Luxury Golf Real Estate takes the final “step up” to world-class status at One Shadow Creek. This is nothing less than 12,041 square feet of breathtaking residential splendor sitting peacefully on the 18th fairway of the prestigious Shadow Creek Golf Course. Shadow Creek is quite honestly one of the most elaborate and luxurious golf experiences to be found anywhere in the world. It’s only fitting that the most prestigious Las Vegas luxury real estate constructed to date should be found on the final hole of this exquisite masterpiece. I know what you’re thinking….8 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, 8 car garage….right? Not a chance. This Las Vegas luxury golf home is as cozy and intimate as 12,000 square feet can get! Perfect for entertaining, with a spacious kitchen, sweeping patio and shimmering infinity pool, One Shadow Creek provides the perfect setting for impressing Kings, Queens and Countrymen. Aren’t you dying to take a look at it? It only takes one call to arrange a private tour. MS Las Vegas Real Estate is at your service. 888-349-2595

I know what you’re thinking, this time the MS Las Vegas Real Estate Blog has gone completely off the deep-end! Who in the world would pay $10,000 to watch a basketball game? Never underestimate the sheer power of Las Vegas to bring out the “cash money” side of life. The 2007 NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas is quite possibly the most sought-after ticket in the history of sports…or anything else for that matter! Nosebleed seats are going for $3,000 and the best seats are fetching more than $10,000. VIP high-rollers from all over the world are flying-in for the game and VIP Casino Hosts are scrambling to make sure they have a ticket! Many of the players already have opulent Las Vegas luxury homes to hang-out in over All-Star weekend. In fact, Shaq used to own a Turnberry Place luxury condo if we’re not mistaken. He bought one of the penthouse units a few years back. Something tells me that he’ll have plenty of house-guests for the big game!

MS Las Vegas Real Estate knows a thing or two about the luxury market. After all, our website is NUMBER ONE on Google for Las Vegas luxury real estate and Las Vegas luxury homes. On more than one occasion, we’ve been called-on to direct our high-end residential customers to additional resources here in Southern Nevada that help “round out” the picture if you will. Examples include the location of the Lamborghini and Aston Martin dealerships, the best place to get fitted for custom golf clubs and where to eat if it’s important to be seen eating there….regardless of price. In keeping with our commitment to provide exceptional service to our special clients that recognize no limits on their lifestyle, we would like to suggest a new cell phone. How much does it cost? If you have to ask, you can’t afford it, believe me. Next time you’re in Switzerland, swing through Geneva and stop-by the offices of CTS (Crypto Telecommunication Security) and test-drive the newest model. Encased in platinum and 18-karat gold and framed by generous amounts of the highest quality diamonds, this phone nonetheless offers something even more special. Believe it or not, this is an authentic GSM phone with super-charged “third level” encryption that is absolutely cutting edge. What do we mean? The Kremlin couldn’t listen-in if they wanted to and neither could the FBI or CIA for that matter. No, we’re not joking one bit. What’s the biggest market for this phone world-wide? You guessed it….Russia. It seems that Russian gangsters with plenty of cash for a million dollar phone have fallen in love with this 007-style piece of art. What would Marx and Lenin say?!?

Founded in 1980 as one small store in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market® is now the world’s leading retailer of natural and organic foods, with 187 stores in North America and the United Kingdom. What’s their mission? To obtain fabulous food products locally and from all over the world, often from small, uniquely dedicated food artisans. Whole Foods strives to offer their customers the highest quality, least processed and most flavorful naturally preserved foods that you can find anywhere. Why are we talking about this on the MS Las Vegas Real Estate blog? Because Whole Foods Market has two beautiful stores in the Las Vegas Valley and a third location is already on the drawing board! If you’re still wondering why we’re talking about this, then you haven’t been to a Whole Foods store. For devotees of this incredible culinary retail institution, a trip to Whole Foods Market is a special kind of nirvana. Where in Las Vegas can you find Whole Foods? The original location here in Vegas is on the west side at Boca Park. Residents of Peccole Ranch homes, Queensridge real estate or Summerlin homes are only 5 to 10 minutes away! Location number two is literally walking distance for residents of The District at Green Valley Ranch real estate. Whole Foods Market is right there off the 215 Freeway at Green Valley Parkway in Phase II of The District! In fact, most Henderson real estate locations are between 5 and 20 minutes from the Green Valley Whole Foods store. The store on the drawing board? Smack dab in the middle of the $7 billion Project CityCenter real estate casino resort development right next door to Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip!

Die-hard fans probably know that Anthony Zuiker is the creator of the “CSI” television crime drama. But here’s something you may not have known, Zuiker is a 1991 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is an alumnus of Chaparral High School in Las Vegas! How cool is that? Luckily for us, Mr. Zuiker is serious about giving back to his home community. In fact, he’s making an impressive jump-start contribution to a brand new piece of very special Henderson real estate. Anthony Zuiker recently committed one million dollars to help build a new $37 million crime lab in Henderson, Nevada! It’s a sure bet that when the facility is finished, film crews from the CSI series will be doing some “on location” filming!