How many of you have lived in Las Vegas for a half-dozen years or so and still haven’t made a trip on a CAT bus?

Those of us accustomed to driving wherever we need to go may be reluctant to do the public transportation thing.

I was quite impressed by a recent presentation from Jacob Snow, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), on the many initiatives currently underway to make southern Nevada’s public transportation system more convenient, attractive and accessible.

Club Ride is one of the tools they’re using. As its name implies, it encourages commuters to use alternative transportation like carpools, the bus or bicycling.

And if you’ve hesitated stepping foot on a CAT bus, watch for the new ACE bus which looks totally different and makes just a few stops on the Strip and in downtown, reducing the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B.

Those of you interested in learning the ABC’s of all things RTC, should plan to attend the RTC Transportation Fair this weekend, May 10-11, 2008. RTC representatives will be on hand at the Boulevard Mall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday to provide details of public transportation in your neighborhood and around the valley.

The following weekend, the RTC Transportation Fair will be at the Galleria at Sunset Mall during the same times.

Posted May 9, 2008 3:12 PM by Pete Codella, APR | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Stable Development, a Las Vegas-based real estate developer, has pioneered a model for business owners to build equity in commercial property. Instead of paying rent to a landlord, clients of Stable Development’s Shared Equity Program receive ownership in the building they occupy, essentially becoming their own landlord.

What’s unique about the Shared Equity Program is that it doesn’t require these new commercial property owners to make down payments or guarantee loans.

To further expand the development of the Shared Equity Program, Stable Development recently hired Michael Young and Ryan Gould as team members. Young and Gould will manage and raise awareness of the Shared Equity Program throughout the Las Vegas Valley and nationwide.

The latest example of Stable Development’s Shared Equity Program is Corporate Center at the Curve, next to the I-215 beltway at Sunset Road where a few dozen business owners have signed 10-year occupancy agreements in exchange for a portion of ownership in one of the eight Corporate Center at the Curve buildings.

Continue reading "Stable Development expands Shared Equity Program for building ownership in Las Vegas" »

Posted April 30, 2008 3:17 PM by Pete Codella, APR | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

For those of you interested in visiting Sin City, we’ve got a one-stop-shop online resource for you. It’s called BestofVegas.com.

And for you locals, it’s a good site to send your out-of-state friends to.

At BestofVegas.com you’ll find everything you need to book your entire Las Vegas vacation. From hotels to entertainment to local attractions, BestofVegas.com has taken the nonsense out of browsing dozens of different sites and put everything in one place. A simple concept and an exceptionally easy way to manage every detail of your Vegas vacation.

Check out:
Vegas shows
Vegas tours
Vegas hotels
Las Vegas travel deals

It’s billed as the best of the best whether you’re looking for luxury or great deals. It includes bargain deals on travel, tours, hotels, restaurants, shows and nightlife. It looks to us like they’ve considered and addressed every possible Las Vegas activity. And for your star stalkers — we know you’re out there — BestofVegas.com will even tell you where you’re most likely to find a celebrity.

Continue reading "Tourists find great deals on Vegas shows, tours and hotels at BestofVegas.com" »

Posted April 15, 2008 11:21 AM by Pete Codella, APR | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Faculty and staff in the College of Southern Nevada’s varied technology, business, science and health sciences programs will host a free expo and public open house Friday, April 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cheyenne campus’ Telecommunications Building.

CSN’s fifth annual Science & Technology Expo will feature displays, interactive exhibits, student demonstrations and laboratory tours to showcase high-demand careers, and high-tech education and training programs.

The Expo is a free of charge scientific extravaganza that’s open to the public — a high-impact, inquiry-based education experience for more than 2,000 Clark County School District students, their teachers and the Las Vegas community.

CSN partners with many businesses and industries, professional societies, universities and other government agencies to bring new developments in science and state-of-the-art technology to the public. Exhibitors and presenters stimulate curiosity, inform and teach through engaging hands-on activities and experiments, interactive demonstrations, simulations and crowd-pleasing presentations.

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Posted April 7, 2008 4:58 PM by Pete Codella, APR | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Last night my wife and I had the privilege of going out on a date night. I say it’s a privilege because now that we have two kids, our weekly date night is more like a monthly occurrence (if we’re lucky).

We received tickets to see Toni Braxton in “Revealed” at the Flamingo Hilton on the Las Vegas Strip. The tickets were a generous birthday gift from a friend. Thank you!

We ended up at the front table, right next to the center stairs leading to the stage. Toni used this runway part of the stage quite a bit to interact with the audience, the thing she did best during the 90 minute show.

So, when she was pausing for photo opportunities with the audience mid-way in her show, I seized the moment and offered my lap for her to take a load off. She sat down for just a few seconds, long enough for the nearby photographer to snap five photos which they tried selling to me for $28 each.

As noteworthy as it is to have Toni Braxton sit in your lap (I’m wearing the same pants today), the most impressive moment of the night for me was when she sat down at the piano and played and sang. She’s a real musician!

Having said that, I can’t say I’d recommend her show to my friends. We were treated to more talking than singing, and more skimpy Vegas showmanship than quality entertainment. In fact, I take issue with her wardrobe person’s philosophy that less is more. Her best costume was a long white, elegant dress (I think it’s the one she wore at the Grammy’s many years ago; at least it reminded me of it).

Continue reading "Toni Braxton sat on my lap during her show at the Flamingo Hilton" »

Posted April 4, 2008 7:31 AM by Pete Codella, APR | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email This

PlusFour, Inc., a local debt collection agency, has been invited to join the prestigious Asset Buyers Division of ACA International.

ACA International is the professional organization for The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals.

“We have met the stringent requirements set forth by ACA International to become one of 280 worldwide members of the Asset Buyers Division,” said Rick Bennett, president of PlusFour, Inc.

The members of the Asset Buyers Division include buyers, sellers and brokers engaged in the buying or selling of accounts receivable. Each member is required to abide by ACA International’s Code of Ethics. “PlusFour, Inc. is honored to be a part of this select group of professionals,” said Bennett.

Continue reading "Las Vegas debt collection agency, PlusFour, Inc., joins Asset Buyers Division of ACA International" »

Posted April 1, 2008 4:34 PM by Pete Codella, APR | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

It’s hard to find good news in the credit and finance world these days, especially if you’re a small construction company trying to get a piece of the hyper active Las Vegas construction market.

DevCorp, a boutique financial services company which provides construction financing for small to mid-sized commercial construction companies, has announced a new Contract Financing Program to help companies participate in large-scale construction projects, like CityCenter.

Through the Contract Financing Program with DevCorp, contractors get the working capital and financial tools they need for large-scale construction contracts. The program provides access to contract financing, providing local contractors cash flow for payroll, operating overhead, inventory, equipment and other business purposes.

The program is available to any contractor on any project and companies with large-scale construction projects such as Perini Building Company and MGM MIRAGE are referring contractors to the program.

Continue reading "Small construction firms get shot at big projects, thanks to a finance program by DevCorp" »

Posted March 31, 2008 2:32 PM by Pete Codella, APR | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

True to their word, the Findlay dealerships stepped it up this past weekend raising $24,900 to assist Glen Gondrezick with his medical expenses.

This, from the company’s announcement:

The Findlay Automotive Group held a fund raising event this past weekend to assist UNLV basketball legend Glen Gondrezick with medical costs associated with his pending heart transplant.

The fund raising event was held March 28 and 29, 2008 at all Findlay locations in the Las Vegas area. Findlay had pledged to donate $100 for every vehicle purchased at Findlay dealerships on those two days.

Findlay’s Chief Financial Officer, Tyler Corder, announced today that the dealerships sold 249 vehicles during the two day event. As a result, Findlay is donating $24,900 to the Gondo Medical Fund.

Continue reading "Findlay Automotive Group raises $24,900 for Glen Gondrezick" »

Posted March 31, 2008 12:34 PM by Pete Codella, APR | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Calling all Las Vegas Valley gardeners! This Saturday, the College of Southern Nevada Desert Garden Center will host its annual gardening and plant sale. In addition, community horticulture experts will make presentations throughout the day. Anyone with a green thumb is welcome and serious gardeners should not miss the free educational opportunity.

The fifth annual Spring in the Desert plant sale and lecture series — presented by the CSN Desert Garden Center and University of Nevada Cooperative Extension — will be held at the CSN Desert Garden Center at 6221 West Charleston Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2008.

Guest lecturers and topics include:

• Norm Schilling, president of the Schilling Horticulture Group will speak on “Five Most Important Principles for Gardening in Las Vegas”


• Leslie Doyle, gardener, author and desert tomato expert will speak on “Growing Tomatoes”


• Sean Goodchild, biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will speak on “Gardening for Wildlife”


• Daniel Secinaro, Lead Gardener for the Springs Preserve will speak on “Native Plants for the Mojave”

Continue reading "CSN Desert Garden Center hosts fifth annual Spring in the Desert gardening and plant sale in conjunction with lecture series" »

Posted March 26, 2008 3:53 PM by Pete Codella, APR | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

The Rio's Village Seafood Buffet serves up tons of fresh seafood on the Las Vegas Strip. Located in the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Chef Richard Leggett's menu includes freshwater prawns from Indonesia, Pacific salmon, Alaskan king crab, Canadian snow crab, Shrimp from China and slipper tail lobster from Southeast Asia.

"With our year purchase the size that it is, this makes Village Seafood Buffet one of the largest buyers in the world," says William Becker, vice president of food and beverage for the Rio.

Continue reading "Fresh Seafood in Las Vegas? Try the Rio's Village Seafood Buffet." »

Posted March 26, 2008 9:13 AM by Blogging Vegas | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This