A Look Back

When I take look back at 2009, overall this was a rough year here in Las Vegas. We had our new President dissin' Las Vegas, the housing market imploding here, double digit unemployment, you name it if it sucked it happened here. Like I said it was a rough year, actually it was a sucky year. (Is sucky even a word?)

Luckily I have ALVDP to look back upon the past year, to remind me of all the great things that happened this past year. Let's see, there was the Photojojo Safari at the Neon Boneyard, in April my family got bigger as we welcomed baby Jude, I got to meet ALVDP fan Big E and we've become friends, I've been reunited with family and friends that I haven't seen in too many years. I sat on the 50 yard line at the NY Giants game in Giants Stadium, I had my own day to celebrate ALVDP and I have a proclamation from the Mayor to prove it!

Wow, maybe it wasn't so bad after all...

Thank you for stopping by to check out my fabulous city, one photo a day.

Please Try To Contain Yourselves

Sign in front of the Mandalay Bay Hotel Lobby's Aquarium, on the railing. No climbing on the railing and messing up the Aquarium. This the best advice I can give to party goers this weekend.

If you've seen the Hangover, you really can't get away with that shit! So don't even think about it! Let me wish you a Happy Almost New Year's Eve! Gross.... Rock on!

Inside Twisted

Inside the Mandarin Oriental at City Center. This is the centerpiece on the tables at the French Fusion Restuarant Twist. Just down the hall from the hotel lobby on the 23rd floor.

Simple yet elegant don't you think?

Downtown Tree

I almost let the season go by without a photo of Downtown's Christmas Tree. Shame on me. Hope you all enjoyed the long weekend.

Snowman

This snowman is in the Bellagio's Conservatory. I figured I can get away with a few more holiday photos. I hope you got everything on your list.

Bird's Eye View

It's a bird, it's a statue, it's a chair? It's a bird statue chair on Las Vegas Boulevard, at City Center.

Let It Begin With Me...

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

So, here it is Christmas Eve. The night that Santa makes his rounds delivering all presents all around the world. You can track his flight here at NORAD Santa Tracker so you can try and catch him delivering your presents. If that doesn't work you can try to catch him the old school way, drink a whole lotta water before you go to bed, that way you'll have to keep getting up! That's what we used to do, for the record it never worked for me.

The photo is from the Bellagio's Conservatory.

Bellagio Front Desk

Hotel guests checking in at the Bellagio enjoy this view. It's classy isn't it. Reminds me of the red Christmas balls display on 6th Avenue in NYC, the one across from Radio City.

The Nutcracker in the Conservatory

Today's title sounds like something from the game Clue. It was the Nutcracker in the Conservatory with lights and Christmas Balls!

I must say that the Bellagio has out done themselves this Christmas Season, the Conservatory is absolutely breathtaking. The designers recylce many of the props from previous seasons and come up with these amazing displays. The Bellagio Conservatory is a must see wether you are just visting or a local. Open 24/7 and you don't have to drop bank, it's free!

Elvis Ornament

How about an Elvis ornament for your Christmas tree? I bet you don't see that on too many trees. I snapped this photo on Aria's opening night inside the Viva Elvis Store across from the showroom. The Cirque du Soleil Viva Elvis Show will officially open on February 19, 2010, public previews began on December 18th to rave reviews.

Christmas Big Horns

While our east coast friends and family were sequested due to yesterday's blizzard, we made the trek out to Lake Las Vegas. We had a beautiful sunny day with tempatures in the 60's, making it hard to imagine all of that snow!

These Big Horn Sheep statues sit in middle of the first round-a-bout you come upon on your way in. This summer I got to shoot (with my camera) the real thing over in Boulder City not to far from Lake Las Vegas. It was an amazing adventure.

Welcome Wagon Vegas Style!

I thought this was a friendly welcome from Planet Hollywood. Planet Hollywood is directly across from City Center on the Strip. Interesting enough Planet Hollywood's Residential Westgate Tower opened yesterday without much fanfare.

Aria's Water Fountain

Aria's colorful water fountain, at the front entrance of the hotel and casino. Pretty cool don't you think? Almost looks like fireworks.

Sex and the City Center

Last night marked the much anticipated Grand Opening of The City Center's Aria Casino. The MGM Mirage's 11 billion dollar property, opened with much fanfare. Fireworks at 11:00pm before the doors opened to the public just before midnight.

This guy was playing the Sex and the City slots, he was so excited about getting to spin the wheel and got a diamond ring. If he wasn't a shill he should be!

Snake Eyes

Ok, so if you want to get technical it's snake eye. So Mo what exactly does the term snake eyes mean anyway? Well, in craps it's when you roll a two it's snake eyes. That's it for the Vegas vernacular, so on to the photo. This snake is one of four door handles you will see as you enter Roberto Cavalli's boutique inside the City Center's Crystals shopping mall.

Geode Stairs

This woman was gracious and let me take a photo of her boots while she was posing for a photo of her own. These are the geode stairs inside Crystals, the luxurious shopping promenade within City Center. Not my greatest shot but I really liked the way her boots looked against the geode background. The casino Aria opens tomorrow can't wait to check it out!

Get A Room!

Saturday afternoon Mr Las Vegas, Wayne Newton made an appearance at Freed's Bakery on Eastern Avenue. Eva, Larry and I drove over to Freed's Bakery to catch Mr Las Vegas for a photo op. Apparently, we were the last one's in Clark County to find out there's more than one Freed's Bakery on Eastern Avenue. We went to the original (next to Burlington Coat Factory), and they told us it was the other shop. We jumped in our cars dashed over there. Eva and I were next in line when Wayne's "peeps" informed us no more photos he had to leave. That's when Eva turned to me and says "lets go out back and catch him!" So off we go around the back of the building to catch him and catch him we did.

It was still looking bleak, until Eva told him she was from Fredricksburg, VA Wayne's hometown and she got more than a photo. Clearly, Fredricksburgians are very friendly! I must say Wayne was very gracious, he let me shoot quite a photos before he left for his next appearance.

Nation's Largest Tree

Last night Larry, Big E and myself went to the lighting of our nation's largest Christmas Tree at the M Resort. The tree stands at 109 feet, while the tree at Rockefeller Center stands at only 76 feet this year. I have to say this tree is a testament to the saying bigger isn't always better, it's got a weird shape and well, I have to admit would have looked much better with colored lights.

There was hot chocolate for anyone willing to stand in line.The quartet Phat Strad entertained the crowd with their renditions of Beatles songs, as well as their version of Teenage Wasteland by The Who.

While this was my first trip to the M Resort, I didn't get to see much, but what I did see I really liked. I'll have to make another trip out there soon.

Lighting The Menorah Vegas Style

News 3's Kevin Janison talks with Hizzoner Mayor Oscar Goodman (right) as he presides over the lighting of the Menorah ceremony on the first night of Hanukkah at the Fremont Street Experience yesterday.

I spoke briefly with Hizzoner after the ceremony and thanked him for my "Mo" Day Proclamation.

A New Tradition

Not your usual Christmas Reindeer, instead a Christmas Buffalo. What do you think will it catch on?

Small Details

This shot is part of a much bigger "picture." This was shot at Palm Mortuary on Jones.

I have always liked the simple elegance white lights look on a house or a tree. I really like the way they look on the trunk of a palm tree. What do you prefer? White lights or colored lights?

The Christmas Box Angel

I shot this last night at Palm Mortuary on Jones. The Christmas Box Angel statute was dedicated on December 6th 2003. Each year on the 6th of December there is ceremony for parents who have lost children.

The Mortuary has a winter light display of animals as well as the lit Memory Tree in the background. The winter light display is for the month of December open until midnight.

Jake and Elwood Blues

"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses" "Hit it!" Probably one of my all time favorite movie lines and definitely my favorite from The Blues Brothers.

These junior Blues Brothers were entertaining the spectators and the marathoners on the Rainbow Hacienda Stage Sunday morning during the Las Vegas Rock n Roll Marathon.

Hi Mom

Love this guy's shirt! He's coming up on Mile 22 on Hacienda and Rainbow at the Las Vegas Rock n Roll Marathon yesterday.

Rock n Roll Marathon

My fearless companion Suzie and I braved the cold this morning to check out the Las Vegas Rock n Roll Marathon. We were not disappointed. We watched from Mile 22, with 4 miles left to go. I got many great shots, but I thought nothing says Las Vegas like Elvis. Happy Sunday. Now we're home and ready to watch football.

Shoefiti in 18b

This was a learning experience, while out and about in the Arts District I found this shoefiti behind the Arts Factory. I always like when I find it an unusual place and often wonder whether or not anyone even notices.

As you all know you can google just about anything and get information. So I googled these two names and found some info, then I enlarged the photo and discovered that the rx bottles have 88 PROOF labels on them. Turns out 88 PROOF is a wheatpaster and graffiti writer. The same with EERIE and GUNE. The funny thing is I've featured 88 PROOF's handy work on ALVDP before. But didn't realize it until now.

I left a lengthy comment on Graffhead.com, with questions about the shoes and the artists, blah, blah blah. I wanted some accurate info for this post. Let me rephrase that accurate general info so I don't look like the uncool geek that I am. Guess what?? This is hysterical the blogger has the comment moderator on and hasn't posted my comment!!! So Gangsta......Haaaaaa. A Graffiti blog that showcases graffiti has to monitor comments from an old hag like me!! I love it you can't make this crap up.

18b

18b's got it's own sign. That's right the Art's District has got it's own sign. Tonight is First Friday bundle up and come down and check it out. The sign is at Casino Center and Coolidge. I can't wait to get a shot of it once it's dedicated and lit!

The Flame

The Flame Restaurant neon sign was originally on Desert Inn back in 1961. These days you'll find this sign which is part of the Neon Museum's Fremont Street Experience installment, on display at the 3rd Street and Fremont Street Pedestrian Mall.

Aladdin's Lamp

Aladdin's Lamp downtown on Fremont Street. This is part of the Neon Museum's Fremont Street Gallery. The Aladdin Hotel was imploded and rebuilt and sold, it's now Planet Hollywood.

Theme Day Waiting

Theme Day is once again upon us! This month's theme is waiting. This photo shows a line of people waiting for their turn in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. This was mid day this weekend, there is almost always a line on the weekend. Check out the rest of City Daily Photo's Theme Days pics here: Click here to view thumbnails for all participants