Wednesday, November 28, 2007

A Porsche and a Pizza to Go

Yummy Meal - Tummy Fill - What a Deal

When people used to ask me how I like living in Las Vegas I would say, with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, "Wonderful place to live but I wouldn't want to visit here." Actually, the number of visitors continues to increase and those who just won't go home become permanent residents. There is so much high rise construction that the crane has become our state bird. Las Vegas is a great place to live and has been for the 40 some years I've called it home.

Where else can you go out a 3 a.m. to get a quart of milk and a loaf of bread and put your change in a slot machine? I've never done that but it is comforting to know that I could if I wanted.Where else can you see any act in the world from Celine to the Smothers Brothers? Where else can you walk up the main drag and see a pirate fighting ship, an erupting volcano, dancing waters, the Eiffel Tower, and the Statue of Liberty on the same night? Where else can you walk out of Nieman Marcus, across the street on an overhead walkway, and into one of the world's most stunning hotels, complete with a casino and Ferrari dealership? Las Vegas spoils its residents with the plethora of options for entertainment and uniqueness, and that's just on the Strip.

Thirty minutes to the north you'll find snow skiing. Thirty minutes south you'll find water skiing. And in greater Las Vegas, which includes Henderson, you can find some most interesting sights. Take for example the Ford dealership in Henderson. Lots of dealerships have race cars on site and other gimmicks to draw in customers but that dealership has a draw that keeps nervous car buyers calm and refreshed - a cafe that is called, of course, Mustang Sally's. Ford Country owner Gary Ackerman got the idea of adding the cafe to make the dealership more homey and less threatening to the car buyer. And it worked almost too well. Some locals come into the dealership several times per week to buy - dinner! The concept has worked beyond his expectations. Gary opened a Jaguar and Porsche dealership several years ago and installed a sort of homespun version of Starbucks. I guess it worked so well he decided to expand the menu.

Across town in another venue a large furniture store installed the Courtyard Cafe. Customers, employees, and stragglers through the neighborhood drop by for soups and sandwiches, wraps, salads, and breakfast items complemented with cups of Joe, smoothies, and soft drinks.

The cafe and restaurant is a far cry from professors at the university who bring in pastries and coffee to help get the brain stimulated. But of course, in the case of the professors, it is food for thought.

Dr. Forgot

No comments: