Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, Las Vegas was one of the entertainment capitals of the world. That all changed when that invisible thingy arrived that can make you really, really sick. And then entertainment was cancelled…until???
This week the Smith Center, Allegiant Stadium and Thomas & Mack Center were bathed in red light. The entertainment venues participated in Red Alert Restart, a national program to draw attention to the live performance industry, which is struggling to stay alive. Somehow we will figure it out.
It’s Labor Day week-end which is usually crammed with pool parties to say good-bye to summer. This year, nothing is going on for safety’s sake. Memorial and Independence Days caused big spikes in coronavirus cases here in Las Vegas. We are finally getting this monster under control, so no pool parties this year please! We need our restaurants, bars and performance venues open!
So here are some suggestions for your Labor Day week-end that alas, are not as fun.
The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
The Flamingo Las Vegas is the casino that Bugsy Siegel and the Chicago mob built. Tucked away in the corner of the sprawling structure is the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. There you will find these gorgeous flamingos as well as pelicans, parrots and turtles.
The thrum of the slot machines gives way to the sounds of nature. The lush habitat is a far cry from the 50 shades of brown that we locals are used to in our Las Vegas desert.
Getting up close and personal with these exotic creatures is a spiritual thing. But add some fun. Show up at 8:30am and 2 pm and watch the staff feed the pelicans. They politely line up for their meal (unlike some of our pushy, rude tourists.) Oh, did I say that?
You can also take photos with the parrots who are much better behaved than Ms Pepe (who you can follow on Instagram @foulmouthmacaw. They will step up to your shoulder for a photo and not bite! (Ms. Pepe is definitely a biter.)
I have a special attachment to this stretch of the Strip. I was a real estate broker in Texas for 16 years when I decided to move to Las Vegas. Now you can take the Nevada licensing exam at any approved testing site in America. But back in 1996 I had to take a paper test here.
I stayed at the Flamingo and communed with the creatures right before I went to UNLV to take the exams.
Admission is FREE.
Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess is one of George Gershwin‘s most popular works. Its most famous song is Summertime. I remember when Clint Holmes‘s mother was alive. She was an opera singer with the most luminous voice. He would invite her on stage. She would tear your heart out as she sang Summertime, a most difficult song to sing.
The play/opera takes place on Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina in the 1920s. Except this summertime the livin’ ain’t easy, but I digress.
New York’s Metropolitan Opera‘s web site is streaming its production of Porgy and Bess this week-end. It’s FREE.
The site is metropera.org. It’s available until Sunday at 4.
Have a great Labor Day week-end, Las Vegas. Please be safe so we can see plays like this again at the Smith Center!
((hugs)) BETH Ellyn
Your Las Vegas Real Estate Concierge
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BA: Yale
MS: Columbia
MBA: L’ecole du Hard Knocks
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