http://living-las-vegas.com At Home in the City of Lights Thu, 08 May 2008 16:16:02 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Not surprisingly, several theaters in Las Vegas hosted “sneak previews” of “What Happens in Vegas” tonight. I couldn’t resist, partly because it’s my self-appointed duty to report on movies with “Vegas” in the title, and partly because I was curious to see how many people would turn up to see it in a neighborhood cineplex.]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2008/05/what-happens-in-vegas-movie/ “It’s difficult to avoid Howard Hughes in Las Vegas.” So writes Geoff Schumacher in his new book, Howard Hughes: Power, Paranoia, and Palace Intrigue. Even without reading this fact-packed volume, anybody who spends any time here will begin to notice Hughes’ lasting impact on Las Vegas. You visit Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and find that the eccentric gazillionaire once owned it. You have coffee at a Starbucks on Howard Hughes Center Drive...]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2008/04/howard-hughes-power-paranoia-and-palace-intrigue/ News of the death of James “Buffalo Jim” Barrier first came to me by email. I’ve long been a subscriber to former Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Miller’s e-zine, a rambling missive he sends out to what I imagine is an enormous mailing list whenever he has news or opinions about one of his pet topics... ]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2008/04/death-of-james-buffalo-jim-barrier/ I’d been looking forward to seeing 21, the film based on Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, Ben Mezrich’s best-selling tale of beating Vegas casinos at blackjack. I make a point of seeing every new film about my favorite city, and my interest increased when I met Mike Aponte the other day at the airport...]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2008/03/chips-and-fish/ The books I always remember the longest are those in which the author shares a story about a place or event that draws me into the narrative in a personal way. Whether it’s about battling a white whale or taking a road trip with a poodle named Charley, a great story pulls readers in and takes them on a virtual journey that leaves them wanting more at the end. Double or Nothing: How Two Friends Risked It All to Buy One of Las Vegas' Legendary Casinos, a new book by Tom Breitling and Cal Fussman, is one of these marvelous books...]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2008/03/double-or-nothing/ I stopped by the Pinball Hall of Fame this evening. Okay, come on! Tell me you aren’t envious that I live in a city that has a freakin’ PINBALL HALL OF FAME! Unless you live here, too, I’m willing to bet you can’t just casually drop into an ordinary-looking strip mall and find 200 pinball machines from every decade since their invention, all in working order and waiting for you to drop in a quarter (well, sometimes a couple more) and start the ball bouncing...]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2008/03/pinball-wizards/ Breaking My Silence: Confessions of a Rat Pack Party Girl and Sex Trade Survivor, by Jane McCormick and Patti Wicklund I just finished reading this disarming and painfully revealing memoir of a high-end Vegas callgirl. I followed Jane McCormick, ably assisted by the writing talents of Patti Wicklund, through her childhood, which was marred by her stepfather's horrible abuse. It's difficult to read about a full-grown Marine molesting a three-year-old, and even more depressing to follow along as the sexual mistreatment continued over a period of years. Sadder yet is the...]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2008/03/book-review-breaking-my-silence/ The Las Vegas Review-Journal has been part of my morning ritual since I moved here. Early on, I noticed that the music reviews by Doug Elfman were always excellent. Not only did the guy write with a fluid pen, he said stuff that was worth paying attention to. And in addition to posting brilliantly creative negative opinions, his accolades were marvelous, too. It’s rare that a reviewer is equally gifted at panning and raving, but Elfman had the knack...]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2008/03/the-elfman-cometh/ One great thing about living in the shadow of the Strip is that you can go to a show almost any time you get the urge. The only limiting factor is the price. With tickets running anywhere from $20 to more than $200 apiece, a serious show habit could easily compete with a recreational drug addiction. Fortunately, there are a few ways to reduce the cost of entertainment besides the time-honored method of gambling a lot and getting “comps” ...]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2008/01/its-always-showtime-2/ I still can’t claim I’m a Vegas native, but early Tuesday morning, I took one small step closer to feeling like one. I headed to the Strip to watch the New Frontier come tumbling down. It was my third implosion since I began living in Las Vegas, and the second one I’ve attended this year...]]> http://living-las-vegas.com/2007/11/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/