why is it that we always want what we don't get much of.
rain! it has been pouring down these past three days here in las vegas. i love it, it's kind and charming in it's ways of changing one's mood. thanks mother nature.
Another party, this time with kids getting stomped on, beer glasses getting broken, people getting drenched by crowd sweat...this party was off the chain chain. I've seen AR play more than a few times, but what made the duo put on one of their best shows? One, the music. duh., and two, the people, the vibe all around. I think the venue, Beauty Bar of Downtown Las Vegas probably have said it once or twice after the show, Afghan Raiders will need to play outside next time in the back of the venue with much more space (and fresh air to breathe!) than inside of the bar. I've never seen security guards act so aggressively as they did this night. Equally with the music comes along their style of performing with so much energy and hype that would make anyone just start to dance, smile, yell of happiness... and have a real, real good time. If you haven't seen them perform, make sure you do by going to their last show of this year, it will be inside of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Wasted Space, Saturday 9/26
I think these hooodlums that broke into the show got kicked out!!!
there were girls stealin microphones and shi*, it was crazyy!
SO good.
surprisingly by all the dancing and the ruff ruff her make-up lasted quite a while this night....!
Happy (treehugger) 5th Annual Park(ing) Day!! For the 5th year around, Treehugger has been transforming metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces with the help of artists, activists, and citizens all over the globe as part of their annual "PARK"ing Day.
All you Vegas heads better be out this week at Neon Reverb, a festival happening in the heart of Las Vegas...DOWNTOWN. It will be running from Wednesday 9/16 to Sunday 9/20.
You know what I'm really looking forward to when we move? (Oh, in case you didn't know, I've probably mentioned it once or twice...my hubs & I are moving to Seattle...possibly end of Spring 10') We are going to be crammed in a tiny apartment (considering we live in a 1200 sq.ft. about home right now and is really nice! its going to be way much smaller), but that's a good thing. Living small makes you appreciate every corner more than you can think. I can't wait to get up in the morning and look out my window with busy heads running around the city, green, trees, kids, outside! Purely, just OUTSIDE. I'm really really looking forward to it. We don't get that in the desert. We see rocks. Dryness. Pavement. No people outside. the term, OUTSIDE doesn't exist really. Oh yeah, we see our Mexican gardener buddies and sometimes we see hootchie mama's on certain corners of Las Vegas, but that's just about it. Las Vegas is dull when it comes to movement in the city as far as action within the communities, there's nothing to it. I don't mean on the Las Vegas strip...ooo do they get movement and lots of it, but its a much different kind of movement. There is a lot of money involved within this fast-paced movement in LV....but its completely on it's surface. There's nothing to it, its like cracking a coconut open with no juice inside! The kind of movement I'm talking about is the movement within each other creating that sense of willingness to be yourself outside on the street, walking to work, getting a cup of coffee, taking a stroll in the park, riding the bus, playing frisbee...this is all done outside. I think we may have one place in town that lets that happen...Green Valley Hotel & Casino's The District. ...now I'm sorry, but that's just sad. And for all of you who don't know about The District, its built outside of one of the many station casinos here in Vegas, Green Valley and it resembles an "urban environment" (yea, in the middle of a desert). It's full of top end, expensive retail that nobody realistically could really afford. You'll see a lot Tommy Bahama shoppers...and its probably one of the only pedestrian-friendly places in town. Las Vegas is known to create things to seem as if we could have it all (Venice, Paris, Pyramids, old apartment buildings...) It's not only creepy to see what Las Vegas does as far entertainment can reach, but its sad to be living in a city where there is nothing to that STUFF than its surface. I want to be able to play in grass (not artificial turf), mow the lawn, go to parks(that are clean and that I can sit on benches without getting a 3 degree burn on my butt), ride my bike (without low rider trucks with spinners slowing down to hit on me) & without any annoying whistling, please. Who knows, it may not be Vegas' fault. We might have to put the blame on the weather at times & its inability to be green and grow prettiness...and make people happier & friendlier & ACTIVE. I mean come on, how many fat people are there on segways and on motorized scooters on the strip and downtown Las Vegas? I mean LV is a 24 hr. city, you are always on a go (not by foot, but by your 2010 Mustang that you'll be paying off til your 50)...hotel, casino & service industry...nightclubs...drinking...but really thats not life to me. There is much more to it. Just recently I went to Laguna Beach with my family and it was so nice to be able to lay down in the sand and appreciate it. And this isn't Gypsy Den's sand in the back (although, i love you den), or Mandalay Bay's sand at their pool, this is the REAL DEAL. This is a beach and its real sand, transported by wind & water and not by a truck driven in from the coast to deliver to a desert. So, whats so great about Seattle again? Well besides their mild winters and temperate summers that enable year-round outdoor activities. .. Level of education is substantially high. Seattle even has many community gardens. My sister-in law Cyn lives here in Vegas and is in the process of creating the Desert Garden Project, so that is a great start for this Las Vegas city, but I do think Vegas will always be Vegas. Back to Seattle...Bars close at 1am. Okay, that might not be so great for some people moving in from a city that is 24hrs., but I can respect this because its for a reason, and I really do think that's where that bondage with the family and friends evolves, more relationships and friendships evolve as well because what is there to do after the buzz kill with the light switch being turned on in the middle of your deepest conversation with your bestest friend? You roll to your homie's, may be drink some more and play Taboo. That's super awesome to me. There is one vivid memory that I always remember when I was living in Spain. I was over a friends apartment he had just gotten and his apartment was old (every building in Spain is old and has so much history to it), located on like the 4th floor I believe. I was standing outside on the balcony, it was raining, more mist than hard rain..it was about 10pm and straight across there were some other people out on their balcony mingling, having sangria...whatever and there was another apartment across the way with their window lit up and it seemed as if they were having a nice dinner party, another apartment on the top floor across the way seemed as if they were watching a movie.....its just incredible to me to be able to stand outside on your own balcony and be so open and not worry about shutting your blinds, or being so concrete and enclosed. Those building structures allows these things to happen. Those people that I saw across the way from the balcony I was at said hi and waved so easily and very loosely. Its common to them, but it was fascinating for me to experience. Thats the part of life that excites me. To be able to appreciate and see those things and I really think Las Vegas did a good job of letting me see the other side of living. I'm kind of glad that I didn't stay in southern California growing up. I probably would of been some kind of snob pretending I was white, grungy surf girl and been boy crazy with all the hot Zach Morris' in So. Cal. I'm actually really happy to say that I was partially raised in Las Vegas. And its where I met the man of my dreams, he came from a very similar understanding. When Ben (my hubs) was in his teens, he was going to stay in San Francisco cause he loved skating so much, but he didn't make that decision at the time. Its really appealing that both of us share a lot of those same qualities to be able to get up and move to something we never really had and never really would of understood being so young. But I think this is a great time to be able to get up and go. I imagine myself sitting down in a nook kind of like the one above, just waking up and drinking coffee...and may be walking down the street to a friend's house (hopefully hil&rob!! or any of our other good friends!) to borrow some produce that I forgot to buy for our meal later on.... or whatever.
With its neon lighting, best view of Downtown Freemont Street Experience and Plaza’s dome-shaped architecture, the new Firefly* is a hit. If you have lived in Las Vegas long enough to know where to go for great ambience and excellent food, you have probably heard of Firefly* on Paradise, arguably the best Spanish restaurant in Las Vegas and very affordable for that matter. “Fun, affordable, and unique” says John Simmons, owner of Firefly* when discussing his new second location Downtown Las Vegas inside the Plaza Hotel & Casino. The Plaza is one of the more classic Hotel & Casinos of downtown, many films have been shot here and the dome in front of the Plaza where Firefly* is located has one of the most magnificent views of Downtown Freemont. Firefly* will allow guests to experience the rare and the feel of a classic-Vegas dinner, but rather indulging yourself with a much more modern feel and eating tapas or “finger foods” that help create that cordial ambience that the Spaniards are known for achieving in their culture. Firefly* has definitely achieved that kind of free-spirited environment. Here in Las Vegas, there is no other place that can achieve this creativity with food as good as our city allows. We are living in a city that provides 24-hr. entertainment, very much like most European countries. Eat late and chat the night away, Firefly* is the spot deserving its reputation as one of the best menus in town. Try traditional Spanish tapas like Ceviche and Tortilla a la española, which has egg, potato, onion, garlic and filled with goodness, or try more popular menu items such as the dates stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in bacon, Firefly*fries seasoned with parmesan, herbs and aioli and you can’t leave without ordering a pitcher of the house made Sangria, especially in this Vegas heat, it is so refreshing, take a sip and you’ll feel like you’re sitting outside at a café in Barcelona chatting about life, travel, family, girlfriends, boyfriends and anything that your mind really captures amongst your friends. Not only does Firefly* have great food, but they are also known for having the greatest and certainly, the most friendliest service. Don’t be surprised if your waiter or waitress strolls by your table and begins to talk to you seeming as if they’ve known you for a while, long-lost friends, that’s the kind of service Firefly* brings. Come welcome Firefly’s newest location downtown with a grand opening on September 10th bringing our own Mayor Oscar Goodman to help us celebrate the newest addition to our most promising and evolving Downtown Las Vegas. [Event details to follow]
+ Eunice Kennedy Shriver dies at age 88. Pictured above in 1953, the same year she was married to Robert Sargent Shriver Jr. who founded the Peace Corps, Eunice was part of one of most prominent families of America, the Kennedy's. Founder of Special Olympics, she was extremely active and dedicated tremendous hope and change for many.
Listen to Karen O's new song for the Where the Wild Things Are, a new film based on a classic children book & directed by Spike Jonez coming out in October. Soundtrack available September 29th.
Very new, hand printed items from Barcelona artist, Emil Kozak for his new "easy rider" collection. Vince Vaughn always has me laughing. Keep your eyes open for his new comedy coming soon in October, Couples Retreat
So, this past First Friday, I did some face painting at our lovely local vintage shop, The Gypsy Den. There were a lotta youngstee's gettin their face painted, it was a lot of fun. I will also be face painting at theRenegade Craft Fair in San Francisco this July, so if you're in the bay area....! Visuals by Aaron.
Hey everyone, I'm on the Knot's web for Best Weddings of 2008. If you could, just leave a comment & vote on my pictures, here ...that'd be so great. Thanks!
Afghan Raiders did it again.
there were girls stealin microphones and shi*, it was crazyy!
SO good.
surprisingly by all the dancing and the ruff ruff her make-up lasted quite a while this night....!
AVP Volleyball Crocs Tour Best of the Beach is in town at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. Admission from 8am to 1pm is free! 
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All you Vegas heads better be out this week at Neon Reverb, a festival happening in the heart of Las Vegas...DOWNTOWN. It will be running from Wednesday 9/16 to Sunday 9/20.
Afghan Raiders will be blowing up inside the Beauty Bar along with others including Shark Attack on Saturday night, a night you won't want to miss!
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Listen to Karen O's new song for the Where the Wild Things Are, a new film based on a classic children book & directed by Spike Jonez coming out in October. Soundtrack available September 29th.
Very new, hand printed items from Barcelona artist, Emil Kozak for his new "easy rider" collection.
Vince Vaughn always has me laughing. Keep your eyes open for his new comedy coming soon in October, Couples Retreat
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The Northwest Pinball & Gameroom Show was held just past weekend in Seattle, WA.
Inside the Pin Ball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.
So, this past First Friday, I did some face painting at our lovely local vintage shop, The Gypsy Den. There were a lotta youngstee's gettin their face painted, it was a lot of fun. I will also be face painting at the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco this July, so if you're in the bay area....!
Visuals by Aaron.
