There is definitely some weird Hawaii / Las Vegas connection going on. I think I heard on NPR that Sam Boyd was from Hawaii and so there have always been special island to casino tour and vacation packages. In any case, you see lots of “Island Girl” bumper stickers on cars and there seem to be an inordinately high number of Hawaiian restaurants here (highly scientific evidence of a large Hawaiian population in Las Vegas).
Maybe that’s why they have a Hawaiian Grocery section at Long’s Drugs. Yep, Long’s Drugs.
Imagine my surprise to find all kinds of Hawaiian goodies in frozen food section next to the frozen fruit juice and ice cream. There’s even a little sign that reads “Hawaiian Grocery”.
Rite Aid is closing all 28 Las Vegas area stores. The company said that Las Vegas was never a core market for them and that the stores here were unprofitable anyways. Wah wah! Are you kidding me? Walgreen’s and CVS are opening new stores on every corner, often kitty-corner from each other. We must have one of the highest per capita concentrations of drug stores in the nation! Prescriptions have been transferred to Walgreen’s so go there if you used to show at Rite Aid.
Zagat’s 2008 Best of Las Vegas Guide is out with ratings and reviews of over 745 restaurants, nightclubs, golf courses, hotels and retail shops. Joel Robuchon and Mario Batali got top honors for their restaurants and Tao was voted the most popular nightclub. The best overall hotels are the Four Seasons, Bellagio, Wynn, Venetian and Ritz-Carlton. Wait - there’s a Ritz-Carlton in Las Vegas? Yep, it’s located out on Lake Las Vegas.
Las Vegans now have a new place to buy groceries: Fresh ‘n Easy Neighborhood Market. I mistakenly thought the store would be similar to Trader Joe’s when I first saw it. However, upon visiting I learned that the Fresh ‘N Easy is more like a convenience store . . . with groceries. They offer fresh produce, meats and a selection of gourmet foods. You’ll also find dry goods, canned foods and basic necessities like household cleaning supplies. Shoppers check themselves out and bag their own groceries.
There are currently six stores in the valley with eleven more planned. The one I visited was located near the Southpoint Casino:
Fresh ‘N Easy
467 E. Silverado Ranch Blvd., Suite 155
Las Vegas, NV 89183
A new shopping and entertainment destination opened on the south-end of the Strip today - just don’t visit right away. The idea of an open-air mall with retail stores, dining, entertainment venues, residences and business offices is cool but it’s really windy and cold and only half the stores are open. I went opening weekend and had a miserable experience. No doubt the owners wanted to debut Town Square in time for holiday shopping season but many visitors (including me) were disappointed by the number of “coming soon” construction signs versus open storefronts.
I recommend visiting in the spring when it’s warmer. If you do go in the next few months be sure to drop by H&M. This was easily the second most popular destination next to the one set of public restrooms located in the children’s play area. And wear a warm jacket!
You want to buy real art (not posters) but are afraid to pay art gallery prices. Check out Painted with Oil a retail location that sells hand-painted art at affordable prices. Think of it as entry-level art for newbies.
We picked up a couple of contemporary/modern pieces by an artist named Xing Lin.
Painted with Oil is located in the Fashion Show Mall.
3200 Las Vegas Blvd., Suite #2680
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 734-0831
Now you can get gas at Vons. Yes, Vons! The gas station located on Warm Springs and Durango is a low-price alternative to the Shell and Chevron stations in the area. It’s a welcome addition to the area which doesn’t have any budget gas stations yet.
Von’s Card holders get $0.03 off each gallon or $0.10 off when you spend at least $50 in the store. This makes fueling up at Von’s as affordable as going to Arco.
Today I’m visiting the satellite exhibition center at the Sands Expo center (right behind the Venetian). This location houses the interior design exhibits including art, lighting and textiles. This is also the home of the Living Green Pavilion which was the real reason I came here.
I have to say that I was disappointed with the presentation. It is of course a noble cause and I was happy to see a section devoted to sustainable home furnishings. However, the collection was widely publicized leading up to the show and did not live up to the hype. There were perhaps a dozen manufacturers of eco-friendly furniture and home decor but these mostly consisted of uniform looking bamboo panels and processed wood construction. There were other sellers of furniture made from recycled products and re-finished wood but these were scattered through the market and not part of this display. I found met one alternative lighting retailer but the only items on display were a few fluorescent bulbs and one LED fixture.
In the end, the most notable display was from Channel Logic. They had several attractive bedroom furniture sets that appeal to consumers who are conscious of design and the environment.
Visit Channel Logic’s blog to learn more about their efforts to promote sustainable home furnishings. Unfortunately, you cannot buy directly from them since they only sell to retailers and dealers.
Here are some photos I took on location at the Las Vegas Summer Market today.
Main entrance to Building B of the Las Vegas Summer Market. There are two main buildings housing over 1.3 million
A typical scene inside the exhibit halls. Furniture designers and manufacturers have their products on display in booths that ring these hallways.
There are three large pavilions in addition to the two main exhibition halls. Each pavilion is larger than a football field and houses additional booths and exhibition areas.
Here’s what a pavilion looks like inside.
I’m on-site covering the biggest home furnishings and design exposition going on this week at the World Market Center. The Summer Market brings together top designers and manufacturers who will be exhibiting their wares to furniture buyers and designers from across the county. There is a large international contingent with many exhibitors traveling here from overseas.
I’ve managed to walk through most of the displays in the first of the two main buildings this morning. There is quite a lot to see! Some of the more interesting collections included a vendor specializing in handmade bars (think ultimate bachelor pad), a 100% silk floral designer and an iron and bronze sculptor who does life-size solider replications. Of course, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of vendors selling the latest furniture and accessories as well.
Tomorrow I plan to visit the Living Green Pavilion, a showcase of eco-friendly home furnishings and sustainable living options.
