Thursday, November 18, 2010

The daily walk through our 'hood and Las Vegas: its future isn't what it used to be

Oh, how I love the Vegas sunshine!  As I mentioned before, every morning at 9:00 Mike and I walk three and a half miles through the neighborhood.  I'll take you along with us...

Here's what 90 percent of the neighborhoods in Las Vegas look like. Not too exciting, but thanks to the (sometimes dreaded) home owners' associations, they're well kept.  Especially where we are in the Green Valley area.


I never get sick of seeing palm trees--they make me feel like I'm on vacation.  This is an intersection we pass near Green Valley Ranch casino. 


If I didn't have to get back to work, I'd be trying to talk Mike into breakfast at the Original Pancake House in there. If anything can send you into a diabetic coma in no time, it's their delicious chocolate crepes!

Sometimes, not often, the Strip gets a little smoggy.  A good wind will take care of that.



This is a typical scene: an empty lot that was once a twinkle of prosperity in someone's eye. My guess is, it will still look like this several years from now.


Unfortunately, this is what a lot of strip malls around here look like these days--half empty.


Las Vegas is hurting, people.  From what I hear, the Strip is still hanging in there, but the impact of the Vegas economy is really felt in the locals' quality of life.  The locals' casinos have cut way back on offering live music, my favorite casino cafe was replaced with a Denny's, and grocery stores that were once open 24/7 now close at 11 p.m.  Even my favorite biker bar, the Pioneer Saloon down in Goodsprings, had a single guy playing a guitar because they can no longer afford to pay an entire band.

Some of my friends, like Hurricane Mikey, have left; others are leaving soon.  A few would like to leave, but are tied to their houses or some other aspect of life here.  Even I wonder sometimes, is the bloom off my beautiful Vegas rose? 

4 comments:

ain't for city gals said...

The same thing is happening in Arizona...just not the same. I think Nevada and Arizona were two of the hardest hit...where is our bailout?

Tara said...

So sad to hear my favorite place not doing well. Have no fear though, I'll be there in February to stimulate the economy..... Thank you for the beautiful pics, just what I needed after a dreary Ohio day...

Julie D said...

Damn you woman, mentioning those chocolate crepes when I'm sitting at my desk starving for breakfast. Those were soooooooooooo good. I'll come back to Vegas almost for the sole purpose of eating there again!

Love the pics. I've been there so many times that it almost feels like home!

Hurricane Mikey said...

I used to love me some Vegas, back when I was making a decent living. When the money dried up, it was time to pull the ripcord.

I truly loved living in Henderson, though. An all-around great place to live.