E-233: 360 Vegas Vacation 4 Trip Report Summer 2017

Random Vegas

In 1994, a five-block section of Fremont St was closed to automobile traffic so a pedestrian walkway with a 90 foot tall, 1,400 foot long canopy could be built to attract people to downtown Las Vegas.  With 12.5 million LEDs and 208 speakers capable of 550,000 watts of sound used for nightly light and sound shows, it would become known as The Fremont Street Experience (a2zlasvegas.com)

Twitpic of the Trip

Full Trip Flickr Album

While there were several photos to choose a winner from, the image that would win Twitpic of the Trip was never in question, from the moment I saw it. We are going to have a few 1^st on this one.  For the 1^st time in 360 Vegas history, the Twitpic of the week isn’t a photo taken by a person, it’s a collage of pictures from 8 people, Julie Moore aka @japluto09, Michael Movestro aka @VegasBrightSite, Del Reed aka @NeonVacation, Alastair Greenwood aka @Bluestorm2000, Shawn DeWitt aka @sdewitt70, Andrew, Corrington aka @agcorrington, Steven Christian aka @StevenGoPackGo, Myself and even thought he didn’t contribute a photo the collection, he’s the man who made it all possible, my brother Scott Roeben aka @VitalVegas.  Also for the first time, I’m not watermarking them with the winners twitter handles.  First of, you’ll all kind of infringing on my brand logo so you’re lucky you aren’t receiving a cease and desist from my lawyers but truthfully, because this one is for me.  There aren’t words to adequately describe what the picture makes me fell, so I won’t try.

#360VV4 Trip Report

Proof that Aria Lied

Limo Playlist

E-161: Vital Adventures

Download M4A

Random Vegas

This week former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian became just the 8^th person to post humus have the lights on the strip and Fremont St dimmed for, in his case for a total of 3 minutes

o   The other 7 are President Kennedy, Elvis, Sammy Davis Jr. Dean Martin, George Burns, Frank Sinatra and President Reagan. (8newsnow.com)

Vegas Mate Review of the Week

Diana Clarke’s Feb 14^th Review of Caesars Palace – 2/5 chips

Twitpic of the week

Photography once again shows why it’s the superior form of art.  While I enjoy paintings and sculptures, neither can do what a photograph can.  Case and point, in the wake of the news that Riviera will not be with us much longer, @bluestorm2000 shared a picture he took of the strip in 1996.  The photo was specifically taken in the middle of the street, in between Riviera and slots of fun, looking south. What is absolutely fascinating is by the end of 2015, 23 years since this picture was taken, nothing found in this picture will exist.  Literally none of it.  While I didn’t Visit Vegas for the first time until 12 years after this picture was taken, it has the amazing ability to take me right there.  It somehow simultaneously looks familiar and foreign.  Watching iconic properties slowly disappear from the strip gives me an even greater appreciation for Fremont St and how, no matter how much things change, is the only place in Vegas that holds onto its past tightly.  While it will be sad to see Riviera go, Vegas continues to be the worlds most popular vacation destination because properties that can’t draw people to her have to go in favor of attractions that will.  It’s hard to imagine north strip ever becoming relevant again however if you are looking for optimism, look no further than south strip.  What was once considered to be a remote location devoid of options, just like north is regarded today, Tropicana & Las Vegas Blvd is now the business intersection in the United States. 

News

RIP Riviera
Flamingo Renovations
Omnia VIP Experience
Vegas/Cage Movie
Top Golf Vegas

Coming Attractions

Peter Frampton - 8/22    Craig Ferguson - 3/13   Tony Orlando - 4/3-5

Morris Day & The Time  - 4/10   The Sing Off (NBC’s acapella music competition) - 4/17

Oak Ridge Boys - 4/24