The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is currently undergoing a major renovation project, creating a unique new concert experience. The new entrance will feature highly upgraded lights, sound, seating, and other features.
The first performer to open will be Keith Urban on September 6-7, 2019. Urban will bring his “Graffiti U” World Tour to Las Vegas for the first time. His tickets start at $59.00 and went on sale July 19, 2019 at 10 AM Pacific Time. Atomic Saloon is the newest show at the Venetian.
The Venetian has added a Brewery.
Trustworthy Brewing Company of Burbank has opened its first Las Vegas location. They will have an educational taproom experience.
The company operates on eight core values: Quality, Education, Passion, Fun, Humility, Genuity, Accountability, and Responsibility. Trustworthy Brewing is located on the 2nd floor of The Shoppes at the North End.
The Bellagio has its newest garden exhibit open.
The Bellagio changes out its exhibits four times a year and also features Chinese New Year. Their new exhibit is entitled, “La Dolce Vita”.
Official Description: “As you enter the Garden through the East bed you will find yourself embraced under an awe-inspiring canopy of Lemon tree Branches carefully recreated to be reminiscent of Da Paolino ‘the Lemon Tree Restaurant’ on the isle of Capri.
There is an outstanding replica of The Palazzo Pubblico, which is the Siena Town Hall, among brightly colored flags representing the various Contrade, the individual villages that make up the magical city of Siena, hang gracefully overhead.” I myself have visited Siena during these celebrations and have brought home 12 of the flags. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are open 24 hours a day and are always free to the public.
If you are looking for the ideal location to host a social or corporate event, one that provides high-energy fun, adrenaline-pumping adventure, delicious food and unparalleled customer service, the award-winning Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix has you covered.
Voted “Best of Las Vegas” multiple years, LVMGP has been the premier spot in Sin City since 1993 specializing in unique, immersive and unforgettable events while providing the perfect opportunity for guests to create memories for a lifetime.
Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix is the “Birthday Party Capital of the World”. Every kid’s birthday is special and planning a birthday party has never been so easy or more affordable. Just leave all the details to LVMGP’s expert party planners who will discuss their fun and creative party packages or assist you in customizing a themed birthday bash and a special menu for a fully personized and memorable experience. Make sure to inquire about having your child’s photo placed on the US95 marquee for the entire 24 hours of their birthday.
Red Carpet, Step and Repeat and behind the scenes candids of 25th Anniversary Celebration for Taylor and Jerry Barton, Wayde King, Brett Raymer at Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix Family Fun Center, Las Vegas, NV – http://www.StevenJosephPhotography.com
But LVMGP is not just for kids. It is the ultimate adult playground with the fastest adult Gran Prix track in Nevada. Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix also offers adult birthday parties and bachelor and bachelorette parties. It’s a great venue featuring both indoor and outdoor activities, and a fun, engaging setting for social celebrations; date nights; product launches and team building outings, with a large variety of entertainment to choose from…80 Go Karts, the ever popular Tornado Twister, the Dragon Roller Coaster, Arcade Games, a giant 90-foot Super Fun Slide and for all you daredevils and speed demons who are looking for an exhilarating ride, you must experience the new Euro high-speed go-karts capable of speeds up to 47 miles per hour.
For a change of scenery for your office meetings, hold a lunch or dinner meeting at LVMGP. A different environment will stimulate conversation, foster creativity and it’s an effective way to increase productivity.
In an oversaturated industry, creating a unique event and finding the right location is oftentimes challenging. The key to a successful event is to offer your guests a personalized, engaging and interactive experience. At Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix, you can turn average into epic!
LVMGP offers:
Fun for all ages
7000 sq. ft. (600+ seats) restaurant / party room
In-house food and beverage / Beer and Wine available
Dedicated party planners
Exclusive or non-exclusive use of any and all attractions
When it comes to building wealth, it’s all about having a plan. I have found that many people are all over the map when it comes to this topic. Perhaps, they are in deep debt and they are trying to invest at the same time. This plan will not get you very far at all.
I know what it’s like to be in debt. I know what it is like to have financial struggles because of poor financial planning and the way that I was living. Unfortunately most people, especially when they make a higher income, live like they are rich and the reality is they become broke at a higher level. I call this “all flash and no cash”. In Texas it is also referred to as “Big hat and no cattle.”
Today, I’d like to talk about the first three steps which are vital for those who want to build wealth. Perhaps, you may be in a situation where your income is good but you are throwing away money. This behavior may have gotten you to a point where you have a big amount of debt. If that is you, at this point, I would like for you to forget about investing and it’s time to start cleaning up the mess. This is all about a behavior change. Starting today, it’s important that you set a goal to live like no one else so eventually you can truly live like no one else.
Let’s get serious about this and start today. Here are your first three steps.
1) Put $1000 into an emergency fund.
If you have not done this already, this is your first step and it is your most important step right now. Make a commitment to save $1000 and open up a separate account at your local bank.
It is vital that you understand this is only an EMERGENCY fund. For example: the car breaks down, something at the house needs fixing, etc., etc.
Going out to eat or needing new clothes is not an emergency.
2) Make a commitment to become debt-free.
I would like for you to get excited about having freedom. Remember this, a borrower is a slave to the lender. It’s time for you to make a plan and change the behavior.
While you are on this plan, your whole lifestyle and way of thinking needs to be overhauled. That means tightening up your belt and the only time you should see the inside of a restaurant is if you are working there on the weekends as your second job.
Besides your home mortgage, if you are currently a homeowner, list all of your debts from the biggest to the smallest. This is anything that you currently owe money on.
You are going to make minimum payments on every debt and you are making a commitment to attack your smallest debt and throw as much money as you can to get rid of that one debt. Once you have done that, you are going to repeat the process and attack the next one. Why is this plan important? It is important because it’s allowing you to see some progress. Once you start seeing the progress, it motivates you even more. This is all going to be about your discipline. Repeat this process until you have paid off your first one on the list. Once you have done this, now you and your family can have a celebration party. And you can all scream at the top of your lungs… WE ARE DEBT FREE!!!
3) Bump your emergency fund up to 3 to 6 months of living expenses.
You are now debt-free. What an amazing feeling! You have freedom. Your next step is to figure out what your expenses are for 3 to 6 months and build your emergency fund up to that level. For example if your monthly expenses are $5000, you need to build your emergency fund up to $15,000 minimum. I think it’s important to get it to six months which means $30,000. You can do this. This is your number one financial goal at this level.
You never know what happens in life. It is important that you have something in place where are you are covered financially for at least 3 to 6 months.
These beginning steps for our family completely changed our lives. If they sound familiar to you, perhaps you have heard about the steps from Dave Ramsey. There is a wonderful book out there called “The Total Money Makeover“. If you are serious about building wealth, I recommend that you get this book, read it, and apply it.
Once you have completed these first three steps, you can now start investing and giving and you can truly live like no one else because you lived like no one else.
You could do this. I’m rooting for you. I wish you great success!
I heard an expression many, many years ago that always made me chuckle. “When opportunity is knocking, don’t be in the backyard picking four leaf clovers.”
The sad part about that is that many people have adopted that philosophy. They believe the only way they are going to have true success is through a lucky break. You see these people many times standing in the lottery line talking about what they would do with the money if they won. There’s always one person that will say, “Someone is going to win. It might as well be me.” Unfortunately, the odds are slim to none for people counting on the lottery for their success.
I really do feel that some people may think they do not deserve great success. An opportunity may come their way but they truly don’t understand the magnitude of how great the opportunity can be for them and their family.
This past week, I have been reflecting on the opportunity that we have with RMS. Now, I have been doing this for 20 years and sure, there have been struggles and obstacles along the way. In the beginning, I had “crossroads” times where I even questioned if I was going to make it.
Here I am almost 20 years later filled with gratitude for all the blessings that have come my way for myself and my family. It is beyond my wildest imagination. I am filled with gratitude and I certainly do not take any of this for granted.
I have a passion and a strong desire to help others reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. Most of you reading this are with RMS right now and I also am aware that there are others who are in different industries, own a business, or are in some type of direct sales. Whatever it may be, my point is, when you have an incredible opportunity, don’t sell yourself short and do not let the opportunity pass you by.
Opportunity has come knocking upon your doorstep right now. Today is the beginning of the rest of your amazing life. However you got here doesn’t really matter. I believe there is no such thing as coincidence. What are you going to do with this amazing opportunity that has come to you? The choice is completely up to you!
There are plenty of resources to help you succeed. There are a multitude of leaders and mentors to teach you and to guide you. You are surrounded by success along with a lot of successful people that are here to help and encourage you. Ultimately though, the final decision on what you are going to do with this opportunity lies right between your ears.
It is going to take a 100% commitment. It is going to take doing what most people are not willing to do. It is going to take a positive mental attitude along with belief in yourself and in what you are doing. There are no shortcuts to success. There are loads of people with the same opportunity that you have right now achieving great things. Every one of them will tell you that it takes dedication, hard work, and commitment.
Let me encourage you today to have an attitude of gratitude about your amazing opportunity. I firmly believe that this is “once in a lifetime”. I am so grateful that this opportunity has come to me, and I’m forever grateful for the ones that introduced me to this industry and all the mentors that have helped me along the way.
Now is your time. This is your opportunity. What are you going to do it? Life is short. Be thankful. Grab hold of it and go for it 1000%!
Awkward laughs, chilling visuals, and a sound design to make us cringe has writer/director Ari Aster continue to prove that he can be a mixed bag of surprises. He’s not exactly some people’s taste. Audiences were divided with his last film, Hereditary. They either loved or hated it. But, the one thing most could agree upon, he has a stunning visual sense and harbors a nasty capability of translating the worst of grief on the big screen. The trailer alone for his new film, Midsommar, echoes of ’73s The Wicker Man. But, Aster’s film delivers far (perhaps too much) more, portraying American friends attending a summer festival in Sweden with bizarre, terrifying, and dark comic results.
Aster delivers uncomfortable big laughs with his unsettling near fairy tale setting. But you’d never know this from the beginning, which delivers the kind of dread that happened midway through Hereditary after an unfortunate accident takes a young life. The scene alone from that film almost made this critic walkout of the theater. The portrayal of grief being far too realistic for me or anyone ever having experienced an untimely passing.
This time around, Aster centers his story around Dani (Florence Pugh), who suffers a tragic loss. The images alone are a punch to the gut. We instantly feel Dani’s pain. It doesn’t help that she was needy before, seeing a psychiatrist, and popping Ativan. Now, she becomes more clingy in her rocky relationship with her boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor). Christian needs space, but doesn’t have the heart to break it to her, and instead welcomes Dani’s intrusion, via his guilt, on his trip to Sweden with his friends to celebrate a festival at a commune.
The trip proves to be hard on Dani as she continues to ride an emotional rollercoaster over her loss with a less than sensitive boyfriend and his friends, Mark and Josh, who prefer her to not put a damper on their fun. The only person that appears sensitive to Dani’s plight is Pelle, the gentle Swedish student who has invited the friends to his “family” festival that is only celebrated once every ninety years.
When they arrive at the small village, there is a serenity cloaked in mystery. Everything seems too perfect. It’s like watching every documentary you’ve ever seen on people who are brainwashed by their new age religion. But, this is not New Age, this is a pagan cult. And, if you know anything about paganism, you know this peaceful and enjoyable visit will eventually embark into a hellish journey.
Once again, Aster stuns us with his sound design and visual sense. But, it proves to be overbearing this time around. The picture is a slow burn of two hours and twenty minutes. There’s a term bandied about on the internet, cinematography porn, and this film definitely qualifies. Aster is so in love with his own imagery that he lingers on it far too long. The monotony tends to take away from the film and will make you eventually turn to your watch or iPhone, counting the minutes left.
This is not to say the film isn’t effective. It’s a very bizarre mix of oddball humor and thriller that does shock at times. Most impactful is Florence Pugh as Dani. Fresh off of the wrestling comedy, Fighting With My Family, Pugh delivers a knockout performance for Aster. Her Dani is so complex and heartfelt, we ache for her throughout the film. Everyone else is more like scenery to keep the story along. Not to undermine the rest of the cast, but they just do not stand out as Pugh does as Dani.
Ari Aster not only has a keen sense for grief, but he demonstrates one of the finest representations of a drug trip, and it is incredibly subtle. It’s the several trips that compliment the film, but do not overwhelm as do many of the other visuals. Some violent images are incredibly shocking and definitely not for the faint of heart. But, then he counters that with unsettling laughs that you can’t help wonder if you should be laughing.
Ari Aster’s latest is not a general audience film. This freakish little acid trip is a stoner art film that runs away with its artistry with little care for its audience. Midsommar is for lovers of Fellini, Ken Russell, David Lynch, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and film enthusiasts that revel in the indulgence of an artist gone wild.
Directed by: Ari Aster
Release Date: July 3, 2019
Run Time: 140 Minutes
Rated: R
Country: US
Distributor: A24
With a total aviation theme, this new eatery held it’s fifth location grand opening this week. This is the first location outside of California.
The FLIGHTS restaurant is located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort, right next to the famous V theater, well known for hosting more than 10 shows. Restaurateur Alex Hult and his wife, Sarah, Miss Nevada 2011, own the franchise.
Corporate Chef Kyle Kingrey had some great food and beverage options served as a trio or a “flight” which allowed all guests to sample a variety of food. Ahi tuna, shrimp skewers, and salads were presented. Each drink had a unique Flight name, such as Miracle on the Hudson.
Plenty of desserts including a beignet flight and a cheesecake flight. The Aviation features gin, crème de violette and luxardo, the Maverick, features bourbon, peach and balsamic, the Mile High has tequila, Campari and grapefruit.
Lots of the strip entertainers were there to wish them all good luck.
With a plane overhead and waitresses dressed in airline uniforms, this extremely large and open restaurant overlooks patrons in the mall. Open from 9 a.m. to midnight, this is a one of a kind experience.
The Miracle Mile Shops has over 200 shops, restaurants, and live entertainment venues. visit flightsrestaurants.com
I know what you’re thinking. This is supposed to be motivation? There’s no way that can be the title of this week’s motivation…Well, I definitely did get your attention, didn’t I?
Yes, this is the title of this week’s motivation, and I have to give credit where credit is due. This came from an inspiration that was sent to me by my daughter’s boyfriend, Justin. Can you imagine what I was thinking when I got a text from him about getting wasted?
Of course, as you probably know, I am speaking about a different kind of wasted. I changed it up a little bit and after hearing this entire message, I’m hoping YOU will be ready to get wasted too. Let’s get right to it.
W ake up early.
I have been preaching about this for a long time now. In order to have a productive day, get a head start on everyone else. You will be amazed how less stressful your life will be when you wake up early in the morning. I know for some of you this would be a drastic change. Try it sometime and start the day off positive. It’s amazing what you can get accomplished in the morning while everyone else is still sleeping.
A nticipate a productive day.
This is all about your attitude. Wake up with a positive mental attitude and get ready for an exciting, positive, and productive day. Map out what kind of day you’re going to have and visualize yourself having a super successful one. It all starts with the mindset.
S et some positive goals for the day.
Write out some positive goals that you would like to accomplish for the day. These could be very simple. Set a goal to smile throughout the day and greet every person you meet with a positive attitude. Be an encouragement to others, and make it a goal that each person you have an encounter with will have a better day just because they met you. Yes, you can make a difference.
T hink positive.
Understand that throughout the day, you may have some challenges. Don’t let anything get you down. Make a commitment that no matter what happens or whatever comes your way, you will be super positive. If any negative thoughts creep in, zap them immediately. Replace any negative thoughts with positive ones. Make sure that your self-talk is super positive.
E xercise
For those of you who are already on a good exercise plan, I say to you “nicely done, keep it up.” Let me encourage all of you to get your body moving. If this is something that’s new for you, start today and start small. Go for a walk. Do a few push-ups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks. Get into the routine of exercising and you will be grateful for the amount of energy this brings to you. You only have one earthly body, make sure you take care of it.
D on’t stay up too late.
I have found that in order to be productive each day, I need a certain amount of sleep. If I go to bed too late and wake up at my normal time, I’m going to be dragging throughout the day. I found that I need seven hours of sleep. Each one of us is different. Make sure you are getting the proper amount of sleep.
There you have it. As you see, this is a positive kind of “wasted”. So my motivational question for the week is—Who is ready to get WASTED?
THE STOVE just celebrated its one-year anniversary with a special dinner invite.
Usually, only open for breakfast and lunch or for special hosted parties, they opened for a great evening of unlimited food and drink. Prime rib, salmon, pasta, vegetables, wonderful stuffed olives, peppers and mushrooms, and plenty of appetizer plates, Scott Commings and Antonio Nunez prepared the amazing spread and co-owner Steve Grodkiewicz was there to host us.
We started with champagne and moved on to a great whiskey. The view over the Las Vegas Valley is unlimited.
The deck of this second- floor establishment is great for a drink and a place to relax. The Stove’s Twisted Tea Room comes with a multitude of teas to pick from and every cup and saucer are purposely mismatched. With the most fabulous blueberry muffins, fresh baguettes, and an amazing menu, this was my 6th time there. Their pecan pancakes are expertly made; they have a twist on the Eggs Benedict with chicken fried steak on their waffles and an extraordinary table-side banana foster.
Lunch is the best with a host of fresh salads like watermelon and sandwiches to pick from. Try the duck macaroni or short rid empanadas, and maybe opt for the bottomless mimosas.
The private dining room can hold 45 guests, with a total capacity of 75. Located at 11261 S. Eastern Ave. #200. Call 702-625-5216. Monday thru Friday 9-3, Sat and Sun 9-4. They are making an announcement soon, can’t wait to hear it.
Anyone who has spent a night or two in the wilderness knows that there is always a potential for danger. Most likely nothing too bad will happen—but you know that it could. James Dickey’s “Deliverance” actualizes that potential for danger, and evil, with impressive force. Published in 1970 and set in the American South, it concerns four city men who go on a canoe trip in the wilds of Georgia. Their weekend adventure plunges harrowingly into the very heart of darkness.
The book’s first-person narrator is Ed Gentry. Early on, one gathers that he is undergoing a crisis of some sort; probably of the mid-life variety. His three companions are Lewis Medlock, a likable but fanatic survivalist who thrives on danger; Bobby Trippe, a superficially pleasant fellow whose nature is not inclined to roughing it; and Drew Ballinger, a law-abiding and musically talented family man.
The rape-episode in “Deliverance” has gained notoriety in popular culture via the deservedly acclaimed film adaptation. But the protagonists have more to contend with than that alone. The river itself becomes an extreme menace; and when the men decide, in a three-to-one vote, to cover up the entire incident in which they’ve become embroiled, they run the risk of facing murder charges. The narrative also includes an uncertainty element, as when Ed is constrained to kill a man who may or may not be the enemy.
Not to be overlooked is the untamed beauty of the setting, a quality that is present in both the book and the film. The latter effectively captures the ringing calls of birds, the buzz of insects, the croaks of frogs and the constant thunder of foaming rapids. The book depicts these wilderness wonders with even greater clarity, as when an owl perches on Ed’s tent intermittently during the first night. Or there is the following nighttime description of the river:
‘It was the most glorious thing I have ever seen. But it was not seeing, really. For once it was not just seeing. It was beholding. I beheld the river in its icy pit of brightness, in its far-below sound and indifference, in its large coil and tiny points and flashes of the moon, in its long sinuous form…’
The book is not without flaws, however. At times it is too chatty, and a few of the details seem implausible. Worse still is Ed’s hardhearted, contemptuous regard for Bobby, the victim of rape. On the other hand, Ed’s most redeeming trait is his consistent respect for Drew, whose decency he never disparages.
There are moments in “Deliverance”, especially in its darkest places, that seem almost too real. It is as if you are reading about something that actually happened to the author, to James Dickey. But I trust that it did not happen, that it is not a true account of an appalling incident disguised as a piece of fiction.
Alex is married and a father of one son. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Engineering and works as an Applications Developer IV for Everi, Inc., in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alex’s high conflict child custody struggle began when he was 23. While attending the University of Nevada, Reno, Alex was excluded from his son’s life and had to institute child custody proceedings in theSecond JudicialDistrict Court(Washoe County). Along this wild and crazy legal journey, Alex won appeals to theSupreme Court of Nevadanotonce, not twice, not three times, butfour times! Justice Michael Cherry of the Supreme Court of Nevada also authored an opinion on an original petition for writ of mandamus Alex filed, causing an expansion of Nevada case law regarding the Secretary of State’s Confidential Address Program for victims of domestic violence. Falconi v. Secretary of State, 299 P. 3d 378 (2013). He is now the Administrator of Our Nevada Judges, which seeks to duplicate its model across the United States. What follows is his interview by John Stiles.
I had the privilege of sitting down with the gifted musician, songwriter, and performer Ronnie McNeir to talk about his extraordinary journey in music....
