Living Las Vegas 

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Want to Know What It's REALLY Like to Live in the Land of Neon? 

I don't have all the answers, but I keep looking!

Las Vegas. Two short Spanish words that are known around the world. But even to those who know the phrase means "the meadows," the words don't evoke green pastures. Green felt is more like it, along with alcohol, sex, and general hedonism, all brilliantly illuminated by some of the most advanced artificial lighting technology in the world.

For vacationers, honeymooners, and weekend revelers, Las Vegas does provide surreal escape, and experiences often shimmer in an artificial glow. But there's nothing fake about the memories visitors take home of all-night parties, lucky rolls, and drive-through weddings. There's nothing fake about a peacock headdress and a sequined bikini, either. It's just that-if you bother to pay attention-there's a real live girl under the feathers and sparkles.

The same is true of Las Vegas. Just behind, underneath, and around the corner from all the glitz, there's a real live city with a fascinating past, a remarkable present, and a fast-unfolding future.

All of which brings me to my point. Las Vegas is a great place to write. Not only does it provide a steady stream of material, it's an exciting place to live.

So here I am, a writer in Las Vegas. I'm far from alone. There's quite a community of scribes here. On my blog, Living Las Vegas, you'll find out more about my work, more about other writers in Southern Nevada, and more about the most fabulous boomtown in the United States.

10 Reasons I Love Living in Las Vegas 

• The tough thing about this topic is limiting myself to only ten. But here goes, in no particular order:
  
  1. Banking with Elvis. I was so tickled the first time I waited in line at the ATM behind an Elvis impersonator. Now I'm much more used to seeing colorful characters and local celebrities, but it's still fun to see Penn Jillette working on his laptop at Starbucks.
  
  2. Natural Beauty. It's easy for visitors to ignore them, but Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead are breathtakingly beautiful. Not much farther away are Death Valley, Mojave National Preserve, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Sedona, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Cedar Breaks, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite. Las Vegas is one of the best cities in the country for day and weekend trips to spectacular destinations. It's not too far from other great cities, too, like Los Angeles, San Diego, Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City.
  
  3. Unnatural Beauty. Yes, this includes the kitschy lights on Fremont Street, but I'm also talking about the fountains at Bellagio, the aquariums at Mandalay Bay, and the hall next to the check-in desks at the Venetian. Las Vegas has more than its share of spectacular art and architecture, even though it still gets categorized as "tacky" in places like New York.
  
  4. The Arts Scene. And that brings me to another little known feature of the new Las Vegas. One heck of a lot of art happens here, and much of it is on display the first Friday of every month.
  
  5. Good Things to Eat, 24 Hours a Day. I still can't get over how many local taverns there are, and somehow, the majority of them manage to have good food, good service, and video poker. I don't actually care about the video poker, but I sure do like being able to get a good burger at 3:00 a.m. if I feel like it.
  
  6. No Bad Hair Days. I wish I could say I came up with this line myself, but that distinction belongs to Rita Rudner, who wrote it in a column in the Review-Journal a couple of years ago. She's so right. Low humidity is a wonderful thing. So are hot summer nights, when it's so sinfully sybaritic to go swimming in the dark. Thunderstorms are fabulous here, too - better than fireworks.
  
  7. Nerds and Libraries. I've raved elsewhere about the beautiful libraries of Clark County, but I haven't yet mentioned how many groovy nerds live here. It takes smarts to do things like program multi-million-dollar fountains or design a set for the Cirque du Soleil. Lots of physicists and other scientists work at the Nevada Test Site, and UNLV is packed with brilliant folks of every persuasion. Add all the artists and musicians who live here, and - gosh, maybe I should start a salon.
  
  8. Everybody Comes Here. The whole world washes up in Las Vegas at some time or another, so if you live here, it's like you're traveling the globe. And it's not just folks on vacation or attending trade shows. It's entertainers, movie stars, politicians, authors, impresarios, & world leaders. (Okay, the Pope hasn't been here yet, but when he comes, we're ready for him - the Imperial Palace has a Popemobile.)
  
  9. Boomtown Energy. People who have lived here a long time sometimes lament all the growth, but even they have to admit that gold rush energy is intoxicating. For a relative newcomer like me, it's endlessly fascinating.
  Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas
  
  10. "Las Vegas, Nevada." I've never enjoyed answering "Where are you from?" as much as I have since I moved here. Being from Las Vegas transcends nationality, and it always starts a conversation. Better yet, the conversation is on my favorite topic. Can life get any better?
  
  11. But Wait! There's More! I haven't mentioned shopping, chocolate, or Norm Clarke. And what about the 51s, Monday Night Karaoke at the Bootlegger, and Lonnie Hammargren's backyard? Suffice it to say that the list goes on.

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