Roberta LaRocca REALTOR® Las Vegas Broker Salesperson Property Management

The Las Vegas 51's are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, and play in the Pacific Coast League. Their games are played in downtown Las Vegas at Cashman Field, adjoining the Cashman Convention Center on Las Vegas Blvd.

If you follow my blog, the center is where Mirage Headliner Terry Fator opened the USBC Championship Bowling. Yes, there are 'Other' things to do in Las Vegas, and the 51's are another reason why it's such a great place to call home.

The field provides an intimate setting to enjoy the games up close and personal. Parking is only $3 and with individual game seats ranging from $9 - $14 combined with numerous 51's promotions, specials and giveaway nights, it can be a reasonable evening out for the adults or the entire family.

Here you have the chance to see those rehabbing or working their way up to 'The Big Show'. You can usually grab an autograph pretty easily or catch one of the fouls or many balls tossed up to fans during a game. The 51's are also known for their Fireworks Nights, like this one from a Fourth of July that Sparky put on YouTube a while back.

The 51's are named for the Top Secret Military Facility at Groom Lake, Area 51. It's no surprise that the team's mascot is an alien named Cosmo. He provides comic relief and comes out with the locals youth league teams and the kids that get to participate in different events during the game. So no, you don't have to go all the way to Rachael, NV and or Nevada's 'Extraterrestrial Highway' for some 'out of this world' entertainment. Of course you may even see some Nellis AFB afterburners lighting up in the distance over the outfield wall as they head out for night missions in the Nellis Range, where Area 51 is located.

The team is owned by the Stevens family from Michigan, that own several nut & bolt manufacturing plants both there and Indiana. They also have interests in both the Riviera and historic Golden Gate casinos, so don't be surprised if a winning game gets the fans a free shrimp cocktail. One of the Stevens brothers, Derek, has purchased a condo here in Las Vegas to be more active in the community.

So on to a little photo taste of the 51's in a game against the Tacoma Rainiers, affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. To watch full screen, instead of using PLAY, click the HD or Full Screen button on the bottom of the player below, and when finished click it again or use the ESC key to return.

The XML Flash player NOT embedded in your current posting location? Click here to view these pictures , or for all my Las Vegas Photoshows that include some of the interesting neighborhoods and other community activities found in and around the Las Vegas Valley, CLICK HERE.

These pictures and others of the Las Vegas area are also available as higher quality large images that are downloadable in my Picasa Photo Album. They are under a creative commons, so you can have them for personal use, like a wallpaper. For any commercial uses, just get in touch. One of my night images of City Center is being used for the International Structural Engineering and Construction Conference hosted by UNLV in September, so permissions are possible if you ask.

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like more information on Las Vegas real estate, rentals or property management, please email me, Roberta LaRocca, at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com, or call 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

Hidden away on just the other side of that big pile of rocks on the eastern edge of the Las Vegas Valley is the largest man-made lake in the United States, Lake Mead. It's located within the 1.5 million acre Lake Mead Recreation Area, the first national recreation area in the country.

The Lake was formed by the completion of Hoover Dam in 1936 to control flooding on the Colorado River, harness it's power for electricity generation, and as a water reservoir for the southwestern states. At capacity, the lake has 550 miles of shoreline and is 110 miles long. There is also a 2nd reservoir in the recreation area to the south of Hoover Dam. Lake Mohave was formed by the building of the Davis Dam in 1953, just north of Laughlin, NV and Bullhead City AZ. The lake is smaller than Mead, with it's widest point only about 4 miles across, but at 67 miles long it has nearly 240 miles of shoreline.

Of course the high water mark 'bathtub ring' at Lake Mead is still visible from the drought in the Rockies that began in 1999. I've mentioned the new water management programs that have been put in effect for the Colorado River. Part of that plan is to balance the water levels by allowing the upstream Lake Powell, that had been down to nearly a third of capacity, to refill. While that meant less water for Lake Mead until it reached predetermined peaks, it appears Lake Powell levels have been improving with the new plan, and reached peak levels of over 66% capacity in mid-July, 2009.

While Lake Mead is low and continued management and conservation is key, there are still several trillion gallons of water to enjoy. Swimming is very comfortable in the summertime 80°+ water (we read near surface temps around 90° in some coves). Then there's always jet skiing, boating, water skiing and wake boarding, and fishing (some large ones down below according to the fish finder) and camping out under the stars either on the lake or at one of the marinas' slips, or staying at a campground or trailer lodge in the park.

All this while enjoying the rugged beauty of the mountains, the changing colors of the mountains and water with the angles of light or shading of clouds, and even a visit form some wildlife. Our son Dave had an on-shore close encounter with a bighorn sheep in one of the coves. After initially running away, it came back down to the shore to within 15' of him. Unfortunately the rest of us were in the water at the time and couldn't get to the camera for the face-to-face shot.

Even if you don't own a boat you still have options. Rentals are available from Lake Mead Concessionaires. Everything from PWC's, runabouts, patio boats, to various sized houseboats can be reserved, and for raft, canoe, and kayak trips on the Colorado. If you just want to leave the driving to someone else, you can also enjoy the breathtaking scenery on Lake Mead Cruises for day brunch or sightseeing, or evening dinner cruises. You can also find more information and boating safety at FunontheLake.com where there is also a contest for Nevada residents to win a week long houseboat and skiboat rental.

Now on to the Photoshow of boating Lake Mead, and you might even notice some of our local Nellis AFB crew doing a little training in a Blackhawk Helicopter. To watch full screen, instead of using PLAY, click the HD or Full Screen button on the bottom of the player below, and when finished click it again or use the ESC key to return.

The XML Flash player NOT embedded in your current posting location? Click here to view these pictures , or for all my Las Vegas Photoshows that include some of the interesting neighborhoods and other community activities found in and around the Las Vegas Valley, CLICK HERE.

These pictures and others of the Las Vegas area are also available as higher quality large images that are downloadable in my Picasa Photo Album. They are under a creative commons, so you can have them for personal use, like a wallpaper. For any commercial uses, just get in touch. One of my night images of City Center is being used for the International Structural Engineering and Construction Conference hosted by UNLV in September, so permissions are possible if you ask.

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like more information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me, Roberta LaRocca, at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com, or call 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

A Benefit Tribute to the Music of Michael Jackson will be held at the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms on August 29, 2009, what would have been his 51st. birthday. It's brought to you by 6W Entertainment and VegasHappensHere.com.

The event will be hosted by Palazzo Las Vegas "Jersey Boys" star Erich Bergen, and will benefit Clark County NV.'s The Public Education Foundation, with every penny of the funds going to local public school music education.

In addition to other cast members and musicians from Jersey Boys, other cast members from Las Vegas shows are scheduled to appear. They include Venetian's "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular", "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits" from the Las Vegas Hilton, and Mandalay Bay's "The Lion King". Many other Las Vegas performers are expected to confirm their appearances, with one recent entry Holly Madison from Planet Hollywood's "Peepshow". The show and it's lineup had a spot on Alicia Jacobs/ Stage 3 at KVBC news.

These entertainers and more are all donating their time to appear for this benefit concert. It's a community spirit that runs very strong in Las Vegas, with so many that give back to their 'home town'.

Of course this wouldn't be possible with the strong support received from George Maloof's Palms Resort. George has helped with other events in the past, like the Podcast-A-Palooza I've blogged about. It's also an appropriate venue, as Michael Jackson had been recording at the Studio at the Palms. I'm sure will be hearing the unreleased material sometime in the future.

No matter your opinion on his personal life, there's no doubt that his music and dance have inspired many of the entertainers of today, and changed the face of music and stage as we know it. It's that performance art that these celebrities are honoring, as it has affected many of their own careers and they hope the funds raised will do more for future generations.

Tickets go on sale today, Saturday, July 25, 2009, at noon. For more information about the Las Vegas Star Studded show, tickets, updates, and links to their Twitter and Facebook pages, visit VegasLovesMJ.com. Yes, the human 'Sparky of Vegas' that shares my office got them started with the website until the folks at the Palms pick it up. His contribution to this benefit that helps our local schools and children, and for that strong sense of community that makes Las Vegas such a great place to call home.

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like more information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me, Roberta LaRocca, at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com, or call 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

Yes, it's been very busy in Las Vegas Real Estate, and for me personally. It's been a while since my lost blog post, as I was back to class to get my Las Vegas Property Management License, in addition to the increase in client calls.

So how busy is it for Las Vegas Real Estate? As reported in the Las Vegas Review Journal, the last monthly sales record was in June 2004 with 4,414 homes sold during the housing boom. June 2009 sales closings reached 4,702, and the current resale home inventory at a 3 year low. The market is very active with both home buyers and investors seeing opportunity. All have been grabbing up the bargains, and for first time home buyers, the up to $8,000 tax credit.

Of course having this busy of a housing market can have it's down-side for buyers. The increased competition has created multiple offers coming in. A trend that appears to be happening in many of the former boom markets of the southwest. As I mentioned before, bank owned properties appear to be priced to attract attention and create bidding wars. The key is to be persistent, work with an agent that is up on the market and the suggestions they can offer, and not to overbid.

While the economy hasn't recovered, there are some bright spots on the horizon. Hard Rock Cafe's new strip location is hiring 500, and another 500 or more hired for the Mandarin Oriental hotel opening later this year. This is in addition to the 12,000 hires for MGM City Center, that this CNN video reports will create 40,000 jobs from the project. Demolition has also begun on the CIM Group's Lady Luck Las Vegas, with that project currently scheduled to begin later this year.

This Las Vegas employment news has encouraged real estate investors. Some analysts believe the Las Vegas housing market has hit bottom, with the only question being how long it will be there before prices head back up. While impossible to predict the future, these appear to be some positive signs.

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like more information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me, Roberta LaRocca, at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com, or call 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

I've posted about the benefits of living in Las Vegas. With all the recreation and entertainment right in your back yard, it makes it easy to slip away for a quick vacation. Even with being rather busy I was able to take a quick break with some out-of-town guests.

This trip was to Wynn, and it's adjoining sister property that opened this past December, Encore Las Vegas. While I've always enjoyed Steve Wynn's first hotel that opened in 2005, I'll have to say he outdid himself with this one. The vivid reds throughout, the butterflies, natural light, decor and draperies, and lavish plants and trees inside and out, give Encore an extravagant and intimate feel. Here's the main aisle through the middle of the casino floor, and you'll find other pictures of Encore in my Picasa Web Albums in the Las Vegas, NV folder.

Le Reve is located in the Wynn Theater, just off the Esplanade that connects to Encore. The show was created by Franco Dragone who was responsible for Celine Dion's "A New Day" when it was at Caesars Palace, and when with Cirque du Soleil he was the producer for two of their Las Vegas productions, Mystere at Treasure Island and "O" at Bellagio. There have been rumors that Celine may be returning to Caesars in June 2010, and she's been quoted as saying she misses her Las Vegas lifestyle, but nothing definite or if Dragone will be involved for a return performance.

I'd have to admit that when Le Reve, "The Dream" in French, first opened, it was rather 'dark'. The show was tweaked and improved quite a bit and eventually Steve Wynn bought the show. Shortly after he did, he revamped the entire theater, added new lighting and effects, and some more touches to the show. While based on water and with plenty of acrobatics, more dance was added to the mix.

The makeover of the theater included VIP seating with plush chairs with personal video screens, and champagne and chocolate covered strawberries are served. The theater in the round makes for easy viewing most anywhere, and the performers at times will be in the aisles of the 3 entrances to the water stage below.

It's an outstanding performance by the cast and musicians, and the new special effects work very well with the adapted storyline. While they will allow photography pre and post show, it's forbidden during the performance for the safety of the actors. So here's a few shots that give you an idea of how the theater itself morphs from beginning to end.

All pictures can be clicked for an enlarged version, and are downloadable at Picasa under a Creative Commons License.

For a little more in depth look at the performance, here's a 2 ½ minute teaser video with some scenes from Le Reve. It gives you a little idea of how spectacular it is.

So yes, living in Las Vegas has it's advantages, and world class entertainment is just part of the equation that makes Las Vegas such a great place to call home.

If you are interested in relocating to the Las Vegas area or would like more information or have questions about Las Vegas real estate, please email me, Roberta LaRocca, at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com, or call 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!