A night to remember

(Originally posted on January 23rd, 2008)




The Palazzo has arrived

Finally, after watching construction 24/7 for the last 2 years on the corner of Spring Mountain and the Strip, the Venetian's sister hotel/casino/mega-mall, The Palazzo, opened during a weekend of celebration and festivities.

This addition makes the Venetian/Palazzo/Sands Convention Center the largest hotel and convention center in the US, with over 7,000 rooms and more than 2 million square feet of convention space.

Although there have been plenty of opportunities to watch the casinos get imploded, attending a grand opening is a rare occasion. So when "The Palazzo Grand Opening Celebration" offered tickets to the public, I couldn't resist.

High expectations

The evening was billed as "Luminaries and Legends" with host Wayne Brady, performances by "The Jersey Boys," Andy Garcia and the Cineson All-Stars, Seal and Diana Ross. I was also told by the box office agent on the phone that there would be food from Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse and Charlie Trotter. Well, for $129 a ticket, this seems like a pretty good deal.

The masses converge

On a regular Saturday night, the Las Vegas Strip is busy, even in January. Add a grand opening in the mix, and you've got a jam sandwich. Surprisingly, the traffic getting into the hotel was light, although we had to park on the bottom floor (easy in, not so easy out.)

There were thousands of people here to see the show, and it was held in the Convention Center, rather than one of the theaters in the hotel. This is where things started to unravel.

Holding a show in a cavernous room makes it difficult for good acoustics. How do you overcome this? Blast the music. Considering we were going to hear top-rate talent, the volume shouldn't have mattered. What we weren't counting on was the Venetian lounge act that played to fill time throughout the evening.

Something for almost everyone

In an arena this large, it's going to be hard to cater to everyone's taste. The house band played a funky, screechy selection of instumentals that was best summed up by all the folks holding their ears from the pain. Literally - too loud and too, uh, loud. A better choice would have been some pre-recorded music from any decade that had more mass appeal and an easier tone.

The 8pm show started not so promptly at 8:35 and Wayne Brady opened the show with highlights from his show, then plugged his show, then left for his 9pm show, never to return - not really a host.

It took almost a half hour in between acts, as they changed the stage accordingly. It felt much longer. A video montage plugged "The Jersey Boys," who were introduced by Jamie Lynn Sigler (Meadow Soprano) on "The Sopranos." The "boys" were terrific and the show will certainly be a tremendous hit here in Vegas.

Then actor/singer/musician Andy Garcia performed with his band. They played Cuban songs, which were pleasing and I guess it was cool to see Andy Garcia in person, playing the bongos, rather than in Ocean's 11, 12 or 13. Oh yeah, he was introduced by Miss America 2007.

High-definition performances

The invited guests (free ticketed VIPs) were in the first 62 rows. We were in the first row of paying seats after that, and then there were 100 more rows behind us. Since this room was so huge, the performers looked like tiny ants on the stage. As in any large venue, there are giant TV screens hanging so that you can see these folks close up.

These TV screens were gorgeous. You could see every freckle up close, which was fantastic. Seal, the Grammy award-winning singer, was up next. He performed five songs and knocked it out of the ball park. Crystal clear voice and great stage presence. Your eyes went back and forth from stage to screen, because he's so interesting to see really close up.

Seal wasn't off the stage but two minutes, and the announcer introduced Diana Ross. She came out in a sequin-covered gown that really played off the lights. All eyes went up to the TV screens, and all we saw was the promotional photo of Diana Ross. I guess she saw everyone else's close-ups and at 63, said, "No way."

Rules are made to be broken

Although she sang as good as ever, we really couldn't see her. Instantly, my wife said, "Let's go up to the stage!" What? I said, "Uh, you go. Security is never going to let you up there, it's VIPs only!"

Never underestimate the power of someone who wants to see an icon up close. My wife grabbed my hand, and before I knew it, we were 10 feet away from this legend. I'll tell you what, she looked fantastic. She should have let the cameras stay on to let everyone get a good look.

Most surprisingly, she wasn't lip-synching. When everyone from Britney to Ashlee to Cher do it, I would expect her to as well. Nope, it was all her, talking and singing, making the audience sing parts of the songs. A truly fun, exciting experience.

Would I do it again?

The show ended, there was no encore and it took about a half hour to get to our car. Then it took 45 minutes of inching out of the garage, finally getting on the street at 11:45pm.

Oh yeah, the food. There was no food -- just miscommunication from the ticket agent about what the night was supposed to be, to what it became.

Only because the performances by Seal and Diana Ross were so good and ended on such a positive note, did we ultimately enjoy ourselves. All in all, at these prices, there are many other places we could have had a better time for a lot less. But that's Vegas, baby!

P.S. The hotel is everything you would imagine it to be. Very classy, understated and very high ceilings which give it a great upscale feel. Don't miss the opportunity to stroll through the lobby, the fountains and the stores. Barney's New York is quite an eyeful.

New York's Finest

(Originally posted on January 14th, 2008)

The holy grail of dining

If you've lived in or visited New York, you may have heard of a legendary Italian restaurant called Rao's, which has been around since 1896. I say heard of, because I'm almost certain you've never eaten there. Why? Because it's impossible to get in.

First, it's located in Harlem, a location that isn't on most visitor's maps. Second, they don't take reservations. Third, they're only open weekdays and only have one seating. Finally, the restaurant is very small, only 10 tables. To top it off, the food is supposedly so excellent that celebrities and regulars are the only people to ever eat there, and celebrities have been known to get turned away.

I want in!

After reading reviews and hearing stories, after awhile it becomes a pipe dream that you would ever get to taste the food there. Until now. Last year, January 26th, 2007 -- if I'm not mistaken, Rao's opened at Caesar's Palace. While I can't be labeled a "foodie," I do enjoy my food on a purely spectator level. Let me assure you, this is some of the best Italian food you will ever eat.

Once was good, twice was better


Let me warn you now, Rao's is addicting. Out of all cuisines, Italian is our favorite, and we're pretty tough critics. Las Vegas has some very good Italian restaurants, and I can't name them all here, but they don't elicit rave reviews or the desire to visit on a regular basis. Rao's is different. We first went two weeks ago and the food was outstanding. Then you leave, but the thought of returning seeps into your brain, and just gnaws at you. Scary, huh?

So we went back again this weekend, keeping our fingers crossed that the experience could be recreated. It was, and then some. The portions are perfect, if you don't fill up on bread early on. My wife was unable to finish the last bites of her entree, and has regretted (and talked about it) since we left the table.

Not a restaurant reviewer

As I said earlier, I'm not a foodie, so I couldn't tell you what spices were used in any of the dishes. What I can tell you is that the meatballs ($12 for 2 - a great appetizer to share) are pure meat with a tomato sauce that you will sop up every drop with their bread. They are famous for their Lemon Chicken, which is a 1/2 roasted chicken, on the bone, that is very lemony, incredibly moist and quickly gone.

My favorite is a pasta dish with sweet sausage and the best broccoli rabe I have ever eaten. Ever. Their meat and seafood dishes are excellent. My wife had a black linguine (the black is derived from the ink of a squid), with the freshest seafood you'll find in Vegas. Then there's dessert. It doesn't matter how I describe their lemon cheesecake or their Tiramisu, you have to try it for yourself.

You again?

While we may not be celebrities, we are certainly heading toward "regular" status. We already have our next reservation placed, and my wife is thinking up reasons to go sooner than that. There will be no argument from me.

Rao's is located in Caesar's Palace and you can make reservations directly at the restaurant after 5pm by calling 702-731-7267. Buon appetito!

Experiencing Fremont Street

(Originally posted on January 13, 2008)

The Vegas Vibe

Having lived in Las Vegas for more than 8 years, I've managed to visit downtown infrequently. We ate at Binion's Chinese restaurant a few years ago, and the folks who were in the casino and general area were not the type of people we usually "hang out" with.

A new attitude

The Golden Nugget has a show playing in their showroom called "Defending the Caveman" and based on the fact this show has some really good buzz, we decided to attend. I must admit we had a terrific time and downtown Las Vegas was a lot of fun.

A carnival atmosphere

OK, if you're going to be on Fremont Street at night, make sure to get there before the "hour." The overhead canopy is four blocks long, 90 feet wide and has 12.5 million LED bulbs. They have 7 shows a night (a different one each hour) from 6pm to midnight. Timing is everything and we got there at 8:10 and left at 10:30 and didn't get to see any of the shows, but we'll be back.

At first, it's hard to pin down what you're feeling as you walk through this open, yet covered mall. Then it hits you, it's a carnival. Music blaring, people drinking, kids running around, lots of street vendors, a jazz saxophone player who is incredible, mini-bike riders defying gravity and collisions in a giant, hollow sphere, and tons and tons of people. Honestly, it's a great, fun place to be. If nothing else, people watching is terrific.

The Nugget

Going to see this show gave us the opportunity to see The Golden Nugget Hotel up close and personal. I'd rate this place a 10. It is immaculately clean, minimally smoky and very classy with an Old Vegas feel, rather than the Strip Disneyland version of what Las Vegas has become.

One of the most impressive features of the hotel is the pool area. The hotel is built around the pool, and even though you can't swim past 5pm (the heated pool is open year-round), the bar at the pool is busy (even at 10:30 on a chilly night) and the sights are awesome.

The center of the pool is "The Tank", a 200,000 gallon shark tank, with a three-story water slide that goes THROUGH the tank. Tons of chaises, oversized sofas, loveseats, underwater chaises, outside table games to gamble on during the day, this place has it all.

Inside, the hotel is elegant with marble, dark woods, crystal chandeliers, fresh flowers. Really, they have not missed one detail. But I digress, because we only came to see the show (or so we thought).

A one-man show (and a ghost, too)

If you're in a relationship that is beyond a year or more, I think you'll relate to "Defending the Caveman". Whether you're a man or woman, this is a very funny, insightful show into relationships that has a great point of view. Performed by Kevin Burke, you are invited to participate in the show, rather than just listen to a monologue.

I give Kevin high marks for performing a "scripted" show while asking folks for input that turns the show into semi-improv. We had a heckler in our audience who was handled perfectly, and without demeaning or insulting him (not an easy thing to do).

For a 75 minute show, there are plenty of laughs and you walk out with a greater appreciation of your better half. The show has been playing since 1991 around the country and is the longest running solo play in Broadway history. However, it's totally up-to-date as far as cultural references, so it never felt dated.

The showroom itself is state-of-the-art, the set is great and the sound system is also top-notch. However, the lighting had ideas of its own. In fact, at one point, the lights totally went out except for Kevin's spotlight. He broke character, started laughing and told the audience a story that his dressing room was built for Frank Sinatra and is exactly the same as when Frank used it.

As Kevin tells it, Sinatra is haunting the place as he has personally experienced some unexplained antics in the dressing room. Even that part of the show was entertaining, and makes you appreciate a live show versus two hours of acrobats and new age music.

Overall, I highly recommend this show, The Golden Nugget and the entire Fremont Street experience. Not your typical Saturday night in Las Vegas. We'll definitely be back (maybe to see Rich Little, who's also performing at the same hotel) and see some of the light shows outside.

A good news headline!

(Originally posted on January 13, 2008)

Numbers don't lie

What a pleasure to open the newspaper and see in big, bold print -- "Affordable housing is easier to find" -- yippee! I didn't need the paper to tell me that, I see it every day. Yet after being bombarded with bad news week after week, month after month, this is a ray of beautiful light.

The article, which you can read here:

http://www.lvrj.com/real_estate/13729352.html

speaks specifically about new homes sales around the valley, and shows that 25 neighborhoods across Las Vegas offer brand-new homes for under $200,000. Isn't that exciting? They're not even talking about existing homes for sale.

New versus pre-owned

Let's be honest, we can't focus on sellers at this time, because they're in a bad way, no matter how you look at it. Buyers, however, are incredibly lucky right now. It's like being a kid in a candy shop. Sure, you can own a brand-new home, but it may not be exactly in the neighborhood you wanted to be in. So the drive should compensate for the new home smell and exact upgrades you choose.

Compare, though, an existing home that already has every upgrade already chosen (and installed and paid for) plus custom paint, plus a finished backyard (maybe a pool, too) -- in just the part of town you've always dreamed of living in. Tough decision, right?

It all comes down to choices, and buyers have lots to choose from. Again, very exciting. Here's a shameless plug, but something not all buyers realize. It costs you nothing to work with a Realtor. Personally, I listen to exactly what you're looking for and narrow down everything available to homes you'd really be interested in.

Why do it on your own?

With gas at $3.00 a gallon and many homes being hard to contact the owners/Realtors, let me make your biggest lifetime purchase the most pleasurable. I'll also show you how your prospective new home stacks up in value to its competition. By clicking on "Raving Fans" on the menu bar of www.YouCanAffordVegas.com, you can read just how helpful working with a Realtor can be. And at an unbeatable price, too.

Battle of the Girlie shows

(Originally posted on January 12, 2008)

Ooh La La versus Crazy Horse

Now you may be thinking, "It's a win-win proposition, pitting one topless revue against another" (but you'd be wrong, grasshopper.) I think a natural expectation of going to high-priced shows like these, you would be greatly entertained. It just depends what your definition of entertainment is.

Can naked not be sexy?

Unfortunately, the sad answer is yes. Having watched "Crazy Horse" at the MGM Grand last night in $60 seats, while these gals show much more flesh than the "Ooh La La" girls, it's all about art here, and neither I nor the rest of my party (two guys and two gals) were entertained. I won't ruin it for you, except to say, "Save your money."

Sometimes less is more

The production values in "Crazy Horse" are top-notch. You're in a real theater and the lighting, effects and props are all first-rate. In "Ooh La La" at the Paris, the setting is a lounge, with a simple stage and basic props. The differences beyond that are major. The "Ooh La La" girls are having fun, and you feel that energy throughout the show. It's silly, sexy, sultry and for the most part, very entertaining.

I'll take an aisle seat, please

In "Ooh La La" the girls even do a runway-type skit, where they parade just inches away from you (if you know to sit on the aisle). They do a true variety show (for better or worse), with singing, magic, comedy and acrobatics. Tickets are also $58 each (but ask at the box office if there are any specials - we got a 2-for-1 special the night we were there).



"Crazy Horse" is directly from France and these very beautiful, fit women are obviously ballet-trained dancers. However, the show is so highly choreographed and entirely lip-synched, that it leaves you cold. There is one brief comedy skit, which you will chuckle at, but not long enough to justify an hour and fifteen minutes. If you don't think you can get bored of gorgeous naked women, think again.

Who sees these shows?

Looking around the audience, the demographic are mostly older couples, seemingly from the heartland of America. I don't know, maybe this is great entertainment for most folks, but judging from the talking and fidgeting during the show, I seem to doubt it. Were these folks comped? 2-for-1 specials? I can't say for sure, but I didn't have to pay the $120 to get in, and I still wanted my money back.

Not for everyone

Mind you, this is not like going to a strip club. There is nothing lewd about either of these shows, but "Ooh La La" definitely has some heat to it. In fact, the couple in front of us actually walked out midway through the show, and I honestly can't imagine why. No matter what, if someone has gone through the trouble to take off their clothes, the least I can do is be polite and stay 'til the end.

It's a heartache

(Originally posted on January 9, 2008)

How to spot real buying opportunities

Here I am, back on my favorite soapbox, short sale listings. I update the number of short sale and foreclosure listings on my website every day, which you can see at http://www.youcanaffordvegas.com/.

Most of the buyers I work with are internet-savvy and come to me after beginning their own search. Invariably, their list of homes to see include short sale and foreclosure listings. I have no problem showing foreclosures. In fact, I'm surprised more and more by how presentable the majority of them are.

Although there is added paperwork and a slight delay in getting an answer from the bank, all in all, the process runs smoothly. Not so with short sales.

It's a fool's game

The last time I quoted statistics for short sales and foreclosure listings in my blog was back on June 30th, 2007. At that time, there were 2,170 short sales. Today, there are 4,237 short sales listed in the Las Vegas MLS. This is sheer lunacy, and I'll tell you why.

A short sale figure has little or no basis in reality. In many cases, the listing agent has never had communication with the lender, and so they simply pick a low number that will attract offers from buyers. From my personal experience, the agent is inundated with offers and those usually get turned down from the lender because they're unreasonable.

Gumming up the system

Lenders are so overwhelmed by the volume of short sales and foreclosures, that the review process has gone from weeks to months. Now many loss mitigation departments will not answer their phones at all, only taking written correspondence. So what does this mean to a potential buyer? Lost time and opportunity. How long do you wait for a response on an offer of your dream home, only to have to start from scratch, letting other "real" homes go to other buyers?

Not fun for the sellers, either

On the other side of the coin, if you're the homeowner and you've listed your house as a short sale, you did this hoping and praying that you can make your way out of the current housing mess unscathed. What's been happening, though, is that there is no communication from the lender, and in turn, you are stuck in financial limbo. Personally, I think that short sales had some viability at the beginning of this cycle, but that window of opportunity has passed.

Look for the real deals

The good news is that many homeowners are becoming more realistic, and setting their prices where they should be. In addition, foreclosures within neighborhoods are good values, and may direct you to a subdivision you wouldn't have considered otherwise. As long as you're buying for the long-term, you should be okay. You can't eat your heart out if you buy and the prices continue to decline a little. The overall difference from what you paid won't matter, if you got the home you wanted.

Is it safe to sell my home now?

(Originally posted on January 7, 2008)

The $64,000 Question

I think many sellers are asking this question, wanting to know when their home values are going to increase. The question is being posed by people who haven't listed their home yet, or whose listing has expired.

What I find interesting is that I think the answer is yes, we have hit bottom, but if you're asking that question, you're not ready to sell.

The "M" word

The only folks who should be selling, or considering selling, are motivated sellers. You see, as a Realtor, I can't tell you what price your home is going to sell at. The market itself can do that, and I'm ony the messenger. Looking at what other folks have priced their homes to sell for means nothing. What your neighbor's home sold for is the number we're looking for. Then we take in a few considerations so that we can compare apples to apples, and price the home within that range. So being motivated doesn't mean giving your house away, it means that you understand its value in today's market.

Pricing with a cushion

Sellers who want to add $10-$15,000 to their price because they know there will be negotiations are only hurting themselves. The message this conveys is that your home is overpriced even before someone looks in person. I've had those listings, and they always start with a call from the buyer's Realtor asking to negotiate before they've seen the home. Call me crazy, but I still like to show my client the house and see if they like it, before I start asking for price reductions.

A needle in a haystack

Personally, I do think we've hit bottom and are slowly climbing our way out of this deep hole. Although the number of homes on the MLS are still very high (23,852 at this moment), the actual competition to the sale of your home is relatively small. Once you pinpoint your area of town, price range, style of home and amenities, there are only so many homes competing. What confuses the issue are foreclosures and short sales. Once we remove those from the equation, your home has a much better chance of standing out in the crowd, if you're reasonable and motivated.

No more short sales!

I am not a fan of short sales. I think they're a fantasy number pulled from thin air, and a frustrating process for buyers and sellers alike. I don't even show short sale listings to my clients anymore because I don't believe they're real from my personal experience. If you want more detail why, feel free to contact me directly. So let's take the 4,180 short sales out of the MLS, and now we have 19,672 homes for sale. Now we're talking!

The most home for the value

By having the nicest home in your category at a great price, your home will sell, and in a reasonable amount of time. I get calls from Realtors almost every day inquiring about my listings. Most buyers don't want to submit an offer and go through the "hassle" of being turned down, because they feel their offer is so much lower than the asking price. Let's help these buyers out. By listing the home at your lowest acceptable offer, you will start to get offers. And getting an offer is the first step to getting out of your house, and into your next home.

In the words of the Bee Gees...

"It's nothing but emotion, taking me over" - once you detach yourself from your house and just see it as a means to an end, you are that much closer to selling. All the dollars you spent to make your home beautiful only mean something to you, not the next buyer. If you enjoyed all the bells and whistles you put in, that's the point. They were there for your enjoyment, don't expect to recoup the money you paid for them, it will never happen.

Know your competition

If you're considering selling your home, let's get together and find the homes for sale that directly compete against yours. I think once you see them inside and out, you'll see what I'm saying is true, and we can market and sell you home in the best way possible.