It pays to be a casino pit boss. “Gaming Manager” is mentioned in this article about jobs paying six-figure salaries.
We had our first 100 degree day yesterday. Many forecasters predicted we wouldn’t push the mercury this high until the first week of June. It will be another hot day today with a high of 106 but then things cool off a bit going into the latter part of the week.
Believe it or not, there’s more to Las Vegas than hotels and casinos. Just a few minutes west of the madness is Red Rock Canyon. I took my uncle there this weekend. We spent about an hour and a half driving slowly through the park on the 13 mile scenic loop stopping often to take photos.
The cost of admission is $5 per vehicle or $20 for an annual pass.
I recently received a notice from the Southern Nevada Watering Authority that spring watering restrictions are in effect from March 1st through April 30th. I’m part of “Group B” so that means I get to water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
It’s important to keep to your schedule so that we can help conserver water. You can also receive a “water waste” citation if you’re caught watering outside of your assigned day!
Most people visit Las Vegas in the middle of the summer when temperatures are the hottest. Few realize that it gets pretty cold in the high desert. My observation after living here for one winter is that the cold season stretches from approximately Halloween to Valentine’s Day. So pack your sweaters and coats if you plan to visit. Don’t be one of those tourists shivering in shorts and t-shirts!
Las Vegas has been named the fattest city in the nation for the second consecutive year by Men’s Fitness (article from USA Today since Men’s Fitness has not updated their site — get with the program dudes). The magazine factors in “sports participation rates, time spent working out, number of parks, average commute time, television viewing rates and legislative health initiatives” in their annual determination.
I believe this unfairly penalizes Sin City and does not properly account for the alternative physical activities we Las Vegans enjoy. For example, playing craps for 5-6 hours is quite tiring - especially after a half dozen Stoly-tonics.
Seriously though, I think the survey is skewed towards recent additions to the city: gluttons and degenerate gamblers from LA and NY who come to live it up. These folks don’t last very long (about 6 months or until their money runs out). Most of the Las Vegas natives or long time residents I have met are thin, leathery-skinned individuals.
We had our first “rain shower” of 2008 thanks to the big ole mess of weather that slammed California earlier in the week. A full 0.25″ of rain fell here putting us 1/16 of the way to our annual 4″ of precipitation. You can check the local weather anytime by clicking on the Weather Channel banner on the right side of this page ==>
This month’s newsletter from LVVWD featured an article about Las Vegas tap water. The “taste” that many residents complain about comes from chlorine. Calcium and magnesium are also present but these minerals do not affect the flavor. Instead, they are the reason we get spots on our glassware, white deposits on our faucets and cloudy ice. Hard water is nothing new for those of us coming from California but folks from the East Coast sometimes opt to add water-softening systems to their homes.
If you don’t like the way tap water tastes LVVWD recommends three possible solutions: 1) let the water sit in the fridge for a few hours so the chlorine can dissipate; 2) throw in some citrus slices and pretend like you’re eating out; and 3) use carbon filter. We use a Brita pitcher here and it works fine - I have no complaints about the water’s taste.
You can find contact information for LVVWD and other Las Vegas utility companies on our resources for new residents page.
Look closely. See it? Yep, there’s a thin layer of ice on top of my swimming pool this morning! It has been really cold the last two days with night-time temperatures dropping into the 20s. Polar Bear Club anyone?
The city of North Las Vegas (yes, it’s a separate city and not just the north-end of the Strip) passed a new law requiring owners to spay and neuter their pets. It’s now a misdemeanor to own an un-fixed pet and owners who fail to comply with warnings can face up to $1000 fines and six months in jail.
Residents say that North Las Vegas is overrun with stray cats so this new law should help. Owners who cannot afford the procedure can contact Lied Animal Shelter for assistance.