Category Archives: Fun

Art in Vegas | I {heart} Vegas

06 Wednesday Jun 2012

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This week I’m loving the fact that the city is filled with art. Really. There is an entire Arts District Downtown, tons of Visual Arts line the streets of Fremont and Las Vegas Boulevard, the lobbies, restaurants and hotels are full of pieces and there are a few galleries that house amazing works by renown artists throughout centuries and decades. Think Las Vegas has no culture? Think again.

One of my favorite art galleries is the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. The intimate gallery houses visiting exhibits throughout the year with historical artists like Van Gough, Picasso, Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keefe. Currently, Claude Monet: Impressions of Light, is running now through January 2013. A serene escape from the loudness of the casinos and place to quiet your mind a bit. The BGFA partners with established museum programs throughout the United States and the world to bring impressive collections to the Las Vegas community. General Admission is $15 for 12+, and standard discounts apply (teacher, student, resident, military).

RSMLV Tips: Strollers are not permitted in the museum, neither are photos or video, and the museum does not have a place to store these items. Next time you are in town, check the calendar listing for the Art & Wine event that happens monthly.

The Cosmopolitan is full of eye-candy l’objects d’art throughout the entire property. From the visually engaging video towers in the lobby to the mid-century inspired Art-o-mat vending machines in the halls to the uber contemporary fixtures like hot pink chandeliers and gigantic high-heeled shoes, your eyes won’t be able to take it all in with just one visit. This on-going showcase of contemporary art was developed in partnership with the New York City’s Art Production Fund.

RSMLV Tips: You really just can’t get enough of this visually stimulating resort. Take the time to leisurely stroll through different parts of the hotel, restaurants, pools and banquet rooms. There is art everywhere! Challenge yourself to find something new with each visit. See for yourself by clicking this video of Evalyn Daniel-Putnam’s quick guided tour of  3D art exhibits at The Cosmopolitan.

Aria Las Vegas and City Center house one of the most extensive art walks in the city. The pieces combined make up the first major permanent collection of art in Las Vegas to be integrated into a public space. What I truly {heart} about the space and resorts that make up City Center is how once on property, I feel transformed into the heart of a major cosmopolitan city. Not only is dining ans shopping a major player in that, but the idea of interacting with the pieces in a non-gallery setting feels almost as though I’m walking through a sculpture garden in Paris. Between paintings, sculptures, and architecture, the City Center Fine Art Collection is made up of 15 acclaimed artists and visionaries pieces made accesible to the public.

RSMLV Tips: Download the free CityCenter Fine Art Collection app on your smart phone for a self-guided tour. While you’re at it, check out these other free Las Vegas apps to plan out your visit.

 

Photo image from www.theartsfactory.com

You can’t talk about Art in Vegas without mentioning the bustling Downtown Arts District that has been demanding attention from art communities around the world. It’s a funky little piece of Las Vegas that gives off a distinctive vibe like no other that you won’t find anywhere else in the Valley. Just off Fremont Street you’ll find The Beat Coffee Shop where you can sip true barista-style espresso drinks and delicious food while listening to vinyl records playing on a record player overlooking the mixed crowd of tourists, lost locals and hipster artists, and is located below the Emergency Arts building. Further up off Main is the  heart of the Arts District, the Arts Factory, where you will find cool cafes, antique shops, galleries, boutique style thrift shops and a groovy little yoga studio, Blue Sky Yoga.

RSMLV Tips: If you are in town on a first Friday of the month, be sure to plan a trip to the First Friday Las Vegas community celebration in the Arts District. A family friendly place where the community comes together to celebrate food, music and art. If you are looking to enjoy some public art in a large open space, stop by Symphony Park at The Smith Center. For some Southwestern eats and cool architectural views, pop into Mundo at the World Market, and snap a shot of the Cleveland Clinic Larry Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

World Market Center in Downtown Las Vegas

While some of the galleries do charge a fee to view the exhibits, most of the art in Las Vegas is in public space, and doesn’t cost a thing. It makes for an interesting stroll and educational experience all at once. And you can totally rock the art scene with or without your little entourage!

See! This is why I {heart} Las Vegas!

 

Town Square Las Vegas

31 Thursday May 2012

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This week I’m loving the Town Square Las Vegas. It’s a local’s get-away and a tourist gold mine, especially when travelling with your little entourage, this spot is sure to please every age in your family.

town-square-las-vegas

Photo courtesy of www.MyTownSquareLasVegas.com

What I {heart}about Town Square Las Vegas:

Rave Motion Pictures…yes, there is a full service, gigantic movie theater that shows all the latest and greatest flicks that you can take the kiddos to and leave the craziness of the Strip behind. They offer a variety of both adult and kid-friendly films, along with 3-D options as well. Learn more by checking out Rave Cinemas on-line.

rave-cinema-town-square-las-vegas

Photo Courtesy of www.MyTownSquareLasVegas.com

 

Children’s Park…is loaded with dreamy playground equipment you played on as a kid. Merry-go-rounds, a Tree House, a labyrinth of ivy, a unicorn to ride on and a stage to make believe on. Kids can play “House” and “Bakery” while sliding and climbing, jumping and screaming…you know the kind of noise that’s looked down upon in the middle of the hotel lobby unless you just won Mega-Bucks. This is the perfect place to let a kid be a kid in Vegas. There is also a stroller rental at the Concierge, and don’t forget your swimsuit, towel and sunblock because there is a great splash pad to cool down in. Parents, you can rest a little easy knowing the park is secured by alarmed emergency exits, and there is only one main way out. When the kids are done whooping it up, take them on a train ride around Town Square Park.  

Whole Foods Market…it’s hard enough to eat healthy when you are on vacation, but it is near impossible when you vacation on the Las Vegas Strip. With the addition of Whole Foods Market, it makes like a little easier to grab those hotel room essentials for healthy snacking and living for babies, kids and parents. If you are really looking to get your green on and looking for some alternative fitness to pep up your day, consider venturing into the Barefoot Sanctuary where owners Alvin Tam and Jada Fire will dazzle you with some challenging yet thought provoking classes like Belly Dancing and Acrofit and Reggae Dance Hall, but you can also catch a yoga class now and then to keep you centered and focused.

Photo Courtesy of www.BarefootSanctuary.com

i {heart} burgers…a super duper family friendly meal spot with decent food. Imagine that! Walk up to the cashier to order your gourmet burger and fries (kid’s menu is available). Then pair that up with a handcrafted milkshake, we prefer the Carmel-Corn, or wine, beer or cocktail from their full service bar. Dad can catch the game while the kids draw on the walls (it’s allowed and encouraged!), and mom can read up on her Facebook posts, emails and texts. There are plenty of opportunities for Brunches, Kids Eat Free and Happy Hour deals. 

Photo courtesy of www.MyTownSquareLasVegas.com.

Town Square Las Vegas is definitely dialed in to both the local and tourist markets providing a little bit of everything for the modern-day consumer. Great shopping like apple, The Container Store, Old Navy, H&M, and Sephora. Great dining like The Yard House, California Pizza Kitchen and my favorite sandwich place, Johnny McGuire’s. Blue Martini and Double Helix provide a great date night atmosphere…date night? That’s right, it’s all possible at the Town Square. Bring the kiddos for a movie and dinner, then have the Artsy Nannies, an on-site, fully licensed and bonded nanny service, keep an eye on the little ones while you enjoy a cocktail or check out the dueling piano bar.

See? This is why I {heart} Vegas!

 

 

Jerome JYD Williams | Foundation

30 Wednesday May 2012

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The more I allow myself to connect with the Las Vegas community, the more proud I am to say I live here. Once upon a time, I was proud of the fact that this was an international party city. Yes, I was around 21 at the time. Even as a youngster, I remember my parents telling me that Las Vegas was, “special”. It took 36 years and a lot of experience to recognize that my home town is way more than that. It is full of impressive organizations, foundations and people in our community that have worked so hard to establish as much as they could while they were here. Recently, I learned that Jerome Williams, also known as Junk Yard Dog, is one of them.

Jerome is not even from Las Vegas. I know, you may think, “no one is”, but that’s not true. I am. My husband is. Many of our family and friends are. We watched this city get built up and taken advantage of when times were good, and get also get left behind like a worn torn love child when times were bad. There didn’t seem to be any loyalty left in this town. The more I started blogging and meeting people in our community, the more I realized…the good ones stayed. I have met so many amazing community leaders in the last year during my blogging experience, and Jerome Williams tops that list.

You have all heard me talk about the Summit Ridge Day Camp. I have officially enrolled my two children. They are stoked! Then Camp Director, Lisa Beinstock, asked me to interview the man behind the making of the Sports Camp at Summer Ridge. To be quiet honest, I’m not much of a sports fanatic. When my husband comes home and reels off the names of the professional sports players he works with, I usually just nod and act interested, even though I have no idea who they are. Of course, when you interview someone, you need to know about them before you ask stupid questions. So, I googled Jerome Williams.

Though I was impressed by what I found, I can tell you, nothing impressed me more than speaking with Jerome on the phone for 45 minutes. I seriously couldn’t thank him enough for taking his time, his talent, his own experiences and caring enough to want to share them with the youth in the Las Vegas community. What an asset to our community.

Jerome hailed from Georgetown University, playing college ball there, then moving on to some well known teams like the Toronto Rafters, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons where he got his nickname, “JYD” or Junk Yard Dog. He never gave a thought to Las Vegas until his wife suggested that they consider buying a second home when the real estate market was actually good (remember those days?). As he states, “I loved my wife. I wanted to make her happy. I said, ‘OK.’,” so, they bought a home in the Anthem/ Seven Hills area. Shortly after, his parents paid a visit to the Silver State. They decided they were going to retire in good ole Las Vegas. He could not believe it, and when his friends asked why, he wasn’t too sure himself, except that he knew he wanted to be around his family. He and his wife, Nikkollette, decided to make the move themselves and became full time residents.

RSMLV: Jerome, why do you feel sports, especially team sports, is important for children to participate in?

JYD: Team sports are the “Game of Life”. Sports play a critical role, they are a serious learning tool. In life, you are always faced with wins and losses. Everyday is a learning experience. You need to develop skills, be coachable, learn the rules of the game. Sports parallels life in a lot of aspects. {Additionally} it is equally important in education. For some children, it’s what keeps them in school. Sports plays a critical role in encouraging children to finish their education. If they do not excel easily in school, for some, it’s the idea that knowing they have something to look forward to, like sports, that gets them through their day. Sports keeps them engaged. {In the end} it’s not just the physical workout our kids are getting with sports, it’s the mental workout, too.

RSMLV: Tell me about Care2Play Sports. What’s it all about and how does it work into the Sports Camp at Summit Ridge Day Camp?

JYD: The Sports Camp at Summit Ridge Day Camp this year will be ran by Care2Play sports, and my brother, Joshua, is the General Manager and will act as the Camp Director. The idea is that the Sports Campers will participate in a multitude of sports, not just basketball. Each day they will play two new activities, such as kick ball and soccer, or soccer and baseball. They will swim everyday, and at the end of the session, there will be a “Bootcamp” where the kids will work together on fun challenges like relay races, teaching them to have fun without the competition. Participating in the Care2Play is that opportunity to integrate life skills with sports by identifying how each child needs different forms of discipline. We have a daily routine, there are expectations of the campers…they have to learn how to follow directions and be attentive, while at the same time getting the most out of their time at camp. Sports teaches discipline through a repetitive learning process. If they forget the instructions, they have to do 5 push-ups; they learn to be accountable to themselves and to their teammates.

RSMLV: OK! Sign my kids up! How do parents keep their kids involved in this program after summer camp is over? Does Care2Play sports offer programs outside of the Summit Ridge Day Camp when school is back in session?

JYD: There will be an opportunity for kids to participate in an after-school program at Henderson International once school starts up again. They do not have to be students at Henderson International to participate. Other ways that kids can be involved with the Care2Play program is through our magazine, Care2Play Sports Magazine. We feature 12-18 year olds who excel in sports, education and community support in the magazine, giving local kids an opportunity to be a celeb, and for the parents to show them off a bit. There is also the Coast2Coast league that kids can participate in as well. {For more information on the Coast2Coast Magazine and the Coast2Coast league, visit their website www.Care2PlaySports.com or their Facebook page Care2Play.}

RSMLV: Jerome, in your opinion, what is the best way for our community to support our youth in sports? 

JYD: Mentoring is one. But, really, the mentoring needs to come in the form of stronger support from the parents. When parents understand the importance of of sports, both professionally and socially, they are able to help their kids learn how to deal with obstacles, how to lose, and how to be a good winner as well. All of this encourages everyone to work together to create a positive community.

RSMLV: Name 3 things you are most proud of in your career and your philanthropy.

JYD: First- traveling the globe. I worked with kids all over the world, China, South America, Israel, Europe…kids of all nationalities…working with them in sports and goodwill. It was really cool being able to step outside the U.S. and see how they do things, and to get a global perspective. Second- Embracing every community I have lived in. Whether it was Georgetown, Detroit, Chicago, New York, or Las Vegas, we established roots, raised healthy kids, and focused on their education. {Jerome also worked in each community to support sports and education.} Third- Family. I am so proud my family is apart of my philanthropies. You need support from your family to be able to support your community. My kids participate in my Toy Drive and Annual Car Rally for kids’ education. Without the support of my family, I would have never been successful.

Well said, Jerome, well said.

There is still time to sign up for the Sports Camp with Care2Play Sports taking place at Summit Ridge Day Camp. Visit the Summit Ridge Day Camp website to get more information on the Sports Camp and how to register.