To sort of celebrate the Roswell UFO incident 61 years ago this week, I thought I would recount a drive along the Extraterrestrial Highway that I took earlier this year. It's been a while since a photographic travelogue has appeared in Brevity. (My apologies; these days, my only trips have been to weddings, and who wants to take pictures to remember those?)
Obviously, I don't live anywhere near Roswell, but the rough location of the alleged Area 51 is the next best thing. The truth is out there, and it starts about 2 hours north of Las Vegas.
(All photos taken personally. Copyright 2008.)
Even the GPS recognizes its uniqueness. No "Nevada State Highway 375" here!
Did anything strange happen? As a matter of fact, yes.
1. Within the first 5 miles, I suffered a nosebleed, NOT prompted by rubbing my face or sneezing or anything. Classic alien abductee material. While there is some health precedent for this, it was still very, very weird.
2. We came across an unusual natural phenomenon just off the road, on the eastern side. I remember saying, "Take a look at that smooth rock up ahead... no, that's sand, NO, that's WATER!" It was a small reservoir of perfectly milky, seemingly clean, tan-colored water.
3. Miles later, also on the eastern side, we saw a mini-sandstorm that looked like it would cover the sky, but as we got closer, it kept getting further away. Then, when we thought we had to be passing it, there was nothing there.
We eventually reached the town of Rachel, Nevada, the only (public) stop on the Extraterrestrial Highway. Not much to it -- some houses, no gas station -- but it does boast the Little A'Le'Inn. Total tourist trap, but I mean that in the nicest way possible.
We had no reservations about entering this fine establishment.
Though some species aren't as comfortable with exiting through the same door. (Note the American flag. Proof positive that the United States is now the most awesome country in the universe. Take note, Stephen Colbert!)
We took a bathroom break and scanned the souvenirs with amusement. While we took our leisurely time, we had to get back on the road. But I couldn't help but feel like we were leaving something -- or someone -- behind.
Semi-related note: last weekend I revisited The X-Files, specifically a two-parter airing on TNT. They were the Morris Fletcher episodes, in which a time/space rift causes Mulder to switch bodies with Michael McKean's character, an Area 51 government tool. The episode is set in Rachel, Nevada and showcases the Little A'Le'Inn, or a larger version of it.
I'd forgotten how funny it was. When it chose to be light in tone, The X-Files was the funniest show on TV. The closest thing we have to that now is Dexter, which is similar both in its haunting instrumental music and in its darkly comic approach.
Nine months ago I started a series called "Where the Streets Have Fun Names." Las Vegas is full of small housing developments, complete with their own creatively named courts and avenues, and I thought it would be fun to share screencaps of these quirky neighborhoods from Google Maps.
This is the third such post. At this rate, expect a new one in about 4.5 months.
Baseball season is in full [insert pun here], and I felt this area of town was appropriate. While the Las Vegas 51s are part of the Dodgers farm system, this set of streets makes a better tribute to the team from Brooklyn, now in its 50th year in Los Angeles. Here's the alphabetical breakdown.
Campanella Street: Catcher Roy Campanella played his entire major league career (1948-1957) in Brooklyn. Half-black, he was originally barred from playing major league baseball, but was part of the Dodgers' effort to break the color barrier. He and Don Newcombe (see below) helped make history within the Dodgers farm team in Nashua, New Hampshire; in 1946, it became the first pro baseball team of the 20th century to integrate its lineup. He was called up to the majors the season after Jackie Robinson.
Cominskey Street: I see two problems here. First, the guy's name was Charles Comiskey, with no N. Second, he is best known as owner of the Chicago White Sox (1901-1931) and namesake of its famous ballpark (1910-1990). Where's the Dodger connection?
Doggett Avenue: Jerry Doggett voiced radio broadcasts for Dodger games from 1956-1987, working alongside the legendary Vin Scully. Any relation to The X-Files characters Dana Scully and John Doggett is NOT coincidental; show creator Chris Carter is a Dodger fan. (And in case you're wondering, pitcher Mark Mulder has only played for Oakland and St. Louis.)
Dressen Avenue: Chuck Dressen managed the Dodgers from 1951-1953. He was on the losing end of the Shot Heard 'Round the World, by which the Giants miraculously won the National League pennant.
Erskine Avenue: Carl Erskine was another Dodgers lifer (1948-1959) who added to the annals of baseball literature in 2004 with his first-person account of the team's glory days.
Hodges Avenue: Gil Hodges, originally a catcher, was moved to first base to accommodate the superior play of Roy Campanella (above). He was a Dodger from 1947-1961. Wikipedia claims he had his best seasons when the Dodgers did not win the pennant, but was less solid when they did. This inverse relationship is described as one of the reasons he is not in the Hall of Fame.
Labine Street: Pitcher Clem Labine spelled relief for the Dodgers (1950-1960) and set a franchise record for career games pitched, with 425.
Newcombe Street: Don Newcombe pitched for the Dodgers starting in 1949, and still serves the organization at the administrative level. He joined Roy Campanella (above) and Jackie Robinson in breaking baseball's color barrier; they, along with Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians, were the first black players named to the All-Star team.
Shea Street: Like Charles Comiskey (above), William Shea has a stadium named after him but is of no relation to the Dodgers. Though he did bring National League baseball back to NYC, 5 years after the Dodgers and Giants moved to California.
Yeager Avenue: Steve Yeager played for the Dodgers at least a generation later than anyone else here, from 1972-1985. He's also the nephew of test pilot Chuck Yeager.
Across the street is another subdivision that contains mostly beachy names like Desert Shale and Coral Rainbow, but has a small section of roads named for comparatively newer Dodger names: Cedeno, DeShields, Hernandez, Nomo, and Tapani.
Las Vegas culture, such as it is, creates an events checklist for the semi-ambitious resident.
Cirque du Soleil show? Check. (Mystere, O, and Zumanity.)
Speedway racing? Check. (NASCAR, still driving around in circles.)
Dinner-based production? Check. (Tony and Tina's Italian Wedding.)
Brush with D-list celebrity? Check. (Stupid Carrot Top.)
Hoops? Check. (UNLV vs. San Diego State, Minnesota, and 'Zona.)
Stage musical? Check. (Mamma Mia! and Avenue Q.)
Impersonator? Check. (Danny Gans and Trent Carlini.)
Red carpet movie premiere? Check. (88 Minutes earlier this year.)
Magic show? Check. (Lance Burton, Rick Thomas, and Brett Daniels.)
TV taping? Check. (NBC's America's Got Talent, just last week.)
Until Friday night, I'd never attended a boxing event. The sweet science has a long and storied history with the city of Las Vegas, but while fights aren't the high-priced attraction they used to be, there's still a place here for men determined to beat each other senseless.
The site was Cox Pavilion, just off UNLV's campus. Scheduled were a series of matches that were part of ESPN's Friday Night Fights. The undercard bouts were filled with comparatively young and hungry fighters, but the main event was the arrival of former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd, who slimmed down 2 weight classes over the past six months (from 211 to 175 pounds) to fight as a light heavyweight before he retires next year. I knew nothing about his opponent, Shaun George, but noticed that he looked a lot younger. (George is 30; Byrd 37.)
Opportunity appeared in the form of floor seats on the 4th row, just spitting distance from ringside. (Fortunately, no one on the canvas spit in our direction to prove this point.) We were in good company, surrounded by Byrd's friends and family members. Also present and seated two rows in front of us was ultimate fighter Randy Couture, who I didn't recognize but was very gracious in providing autographs and photo ops to fans and gawkers. (He was there just to have a good time, which is all you can ask for in a celebrity. Also, while casually dressed, he wears couture.)
A view from my camera phone. While the arena was far from packed, it was remarkable how quiet the match was. There were a few vocal fans who offered their coaching opinions, but you could still hear the pugilists breathe up there. Before the match I thought of things to yell (like "Eye of the tiger, baby" and "Sweep the leg") but abandoned them for fear of being, well, heard. So I applauded politely, and saved my loudest cheers for the Round 4 girl.
Both men got their share of punches, but you could tell that George had more energy and was tallying up the points on the scorecard. Byrd showed some fire toward the end, but a series of devastating punches floored him. He got up, but George kept at it, and his last punch left Byrd on the ropes, facing us. We saw what the referee saw: the former champ's eyes rolling, unable to focus on the man in front of him. TKO. Here's the ESPN recap.
So, boxing? Check. And I wouldn't mind checking it again.
[Final note: if you plan on visiting Las Vegas and would like to know more about any of the shows, venues, or events described in this post, let me know. Generally, I don't review local attractions, but I'll try to give you an idea as to what to expect.]
For part of the Mother's Day festivities, we returned to the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino, this time to attend a taping of the NBC summer series America's Got Talent. At first we considered any combination of picnics, art walks, or community festivals to mark the day, but in the end we could not deny the sheer marquee power of host Jerry Springer and judges David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne, and Piers Morgan.
We had good (free) seats in the auditorium right next to the main cameras, which was ideal: we were close enough for a great view, but still hidden under the cameras. (Many have the desire to be captured on television; I am not one of those people.)
Before anyone famous showed up, the production crew filmed the audience doing things like standing ovations, seated applause, concerted booing, and the ever-usable collective shock and anger. Presumably, they'll add these moments where appropriate during the editing process. But it confirmed what I've long believed about television: it's all fake.
[Dramatic aside: After all that phony audience interaction, I became nauseous. I looked right and left, searching for ANYTHING that seemed real. And there he was, God's gift to Germany: David Hasselhoff. Thank you, Herr Hair.]
The judges ran down the aisle to their seats amidst timely applause, and the show began. After a few opening remarks in which he reminds us that he's not talented, Jerry Springer tries to invoke an anything-can-happen atmosphere, and reports that last season's winner has a recurring gig at the Las Vegas Hilton. So it's appropriate that the showrunners (including exec producer Simon Cowell, who didn't appear) wanted the competition here.
We witnessed about 16 acts perform, and some were clearly there for the sake of television. We were coached by the warmup guy, a Lewis Black wannabe, to chant "Off! Off! Off!" when we desired a performer to stop. (To me, this is a poor word choice. We were already cheering on Mr. Knight Rider with "Hoff! Hoff! Hoff!" so anything similar just made things confusing.)
Frequently I felt the need to act upon my wiseass tendencies in this venue. For example, when a mother/daughter pair of whistlers (they performed "Climb Every Mountain") interacted with the judges, the daughter -- who said she was about 40 -- started getting sassy. She mentioned to David Hasselhoff that she used to keep a life-size poster of him on her bedroom wall. "So did he," I yelled as a reply. I doubt he heard that, and I'm sure the adjacent cameras cut out the ambient noise, but at least I entertained those around me.
I met my sarcasm Kryptonite when a U.S. Army serviceman came on stage wearing fatigues and a guitar, and mentioned that he'd spent the past 15 months in Iraq. As he chatted with the judges, each of his responses was met with applause. Which was fine, but then he started singing that dreadful Edwin McCain song "I'll Be." Whether or not he was good enough, I sure as heck wasn't going to say anything.
Overall, it was an okay experience; I can kind of see why shows like American Idol have such a young, Stepford-esque audience willing to behave like idiots on cue. I would like to think that a taping of something like The Daily Show would be more entertaining, though similarly filled with stops and starts.
Usually the advanced screening is a fairly muted affair: some cineplex cancels the 7:00 showing of one of its underperforming movies so that the screening room can be used to show local critics the latest studio offering. The critics, in turn, can write reviews that get published before the movie's release date. Meanwhile, a few hundred civilians (myself included) obtain passes to fill up the room. This is how I see a movie early.
Occasionally there's something called a world premiere. It's a red carpet affair where celebrities, studio people, and other VIPs congregate to sell the film as an event. This happens in Los Angeles and New York all the time, and does happen on occasion here in Las Vegas. The term "world premiere" is a misnomer; for many major studio films, a few test screenings or advanced screenings have already taken place. (I've seen quite a few films before their "world premiere.")
I attended my first world premiere last night when we won tickets to see 88 Minutes at the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino (formerly the Aladdin, if you haven't been here recently). For those so inclined, there's a chance to catch a glimpse of the movie's stars on their way in. In this case, that would include Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, and Benjamin McKenzie. (Amy Brenneman and Neal McDonough were scheduled to be there, but I don't think they were. Wire Image has posted pictures here.)
Not considering myself the starstruck type -- though I'm sure there are exceptions -- I was not so inclined. We went to our (assigned) seats in the mezzanine where I read a book and amused myself compiling a short list of
Things NOT to say when you first meet Al Pacino
1. "Whoo-ah!" (That's how the script spells it.)
2. "I loved you in Meet the Parents."
3. "Listen, I've got some ideas for The Godfather Part IV if you..."
4. "Could you ask Neal McDonough if NBC is bringing back Boomtown?"
5. "Hold on. I'm looking for the scar on your face."
Feel free to add on in the comments. Anyway, we ended up seeing a few of the stars anyway as they stood up during the movie intro. So I guess that was a bonus.
As for the movie itself? Yikes. Pacino plays a brilliant forensic psychiatrist (is there any other kind?) whose persuasive testimony drove a jury to convict McDonough's character. Fast forward to the day of execution, and events happen that suggest Pacino got the wrong man. Meanwhile, he gets a mysterious phone call: "You have 88 minutes to live." The rest of the movie takes place in real time as he tries to track down the culprit when everyone's a suspect, etc.
If making this movie can be considered a crime, then I would finger the script as the criminal. It runs the gamut from unspeakably bad to hilariously bad. The actors do their best, and there are some clever moments, but you can tell early on that you're in for an experience that's anything but thrilling.
I'd count the implausibilities, but those who post to the film's IMDb page have already begun compiling "88 stupid things in this movie." Pacino himself looks tired, which is part of his character but is more likely how he felt while filming.
For a better example of real drama in real time, check out Shakespeare 24.
Hiatus explained!
I'm working on an in-town move. The do-it-yourself kind. Painful and time consuming. No point in blogging at the moment.
Hiatus continued.
Four months ago I tried to start a special series here at Brevity called "Where the Streets Have Fun Names." Basically, I provide a screen capture of an unusual Las Vegas neighborhood found in Google Maps. Despite finding quite a few, I never got around to writing the posts, and kinda forgot about it. Well, this is my first step toward improving that lousy track record.
This is the least creatively named set of streets in human history:
Some questions:1. Who thought this was a good idea, and how high were they?2. To what decibel levels did the county authorities laugh?3.
How do you not get lost?
"From Decatur, turn right on Royal Ridge. Then take the first right onto Royal Ridge -- what? No, right onto Royal Ridge Drive, then right onto Royal Ridge Way. Right, Royal Ridge Way. Then take Royal until you get to Royal Ridge Boulevard. That's right, Royal. If you get to Ridge then you've gone too far. No, not the... wait... I'll send you the GPS coordinates."
I'm paying about half-attention to the early goings this college basketball season. (I'll be at the UNLV-Arizona game in a couple of weeks, so by then I should be a lot more excited.)
I have, however, been keeping an eye on those teams that have yet to lose a game. Last time I wrote about the sport, there were 41 undefeated teams. Since then, 24 have lost.
Seems unfair to leave a team out, so my Seeded 16 is a Seeded 17.South Regional (Houston)
01. Memphis: Good neutral court wins strengthened their profile.
08. Clemson: Could be 13-0 when they host UNC in the new year.
09. Pittsburgh: Get a pre-holiday test against Duke in NYC.
16. Texas-Arlington: These two Southland teams could both be...
17. Sam Houston State: ...undefeated when they play January 30.
Midwest Regional (Detroit)
02. Kansas: Great win at USC in possible Final Four preview.
07. Butler: Beat Ohio State by 19 points last week.
10. Miami: Could coast through rest of 2007.
15. Vanderbilt: A few okay wins, but rest of SEC not convinced.
East Regional (Charlotte)
03. UNC: I'm frustrated to say that I don't hate these guys yet.
06. Georgetown: Great chance to show stuff at Memphis soon.
11. California: Can measure themselves vs. Kansas State.
14. Mississippi: Matchups against Winthrop, Clemson lay ahead.
West Regional (Phoenix)
04. Texas: Early wins vs. Tennessee, UCLA count a lot.
05. Washington State: Exercised state superiority at Zags.
12. Duke: Lost Martynas Pocius to season-ending injury.
13. St. Mary's: But Gonzaga's still the WCC team to beat.Also considered: No one for now.
This weekend, while out driving with my parents, I had stopped at an intersection. To the left was a Verizon store with a large group of individuals outside waiting for something. My mother asks out loud, "What are all those people doing there?"
I glanced at the parking lot crowd, returned to face the road, and replied simply, "Oh, that's the network."
Unlike the NFL, which stages a concert of some sort, the college basketball season begins without too much fanfare. Sure, there's Midnight Madness, if you want to get excited about practice time. But the games themselves sort of happen before you realize it.
Here in Las Vegas, college basketball became a known quantity about a week ago, when the sports books started printing out the championship odds of 80 different teams. This is their top 16 (numbers provided are for entertainment purposes only, blah blah blah I'm not your bookie):
UCLA 4/1
Memphis 9/2
UNC 5/1
Kansas 7/1
Louisville 10/1
Tennessee 12/1
Georgetown 12/1
Michigan State 12/1
Indiana 15/1
Duke 15/1
Arizona 20/1
Washington State 22/1
Kentucky 25/1
Syracuse 28/1
Arkansas 30/1
Stanford 30/1
In case you're wondering, Florida's threepeat odds stand at 75/1, the same odds as preseason NIT champ Texas A&M and finalist Ohio State. Other notables: USC 45/1, Kansas State 100/1, Butler 150/1, Davidson 250/1, Missouri 500/1, and Winthrop on the board at 1000/1. Local teams Nevada and UNLV are 250/1.
The end of the preseason tournaments marks a good time to shake up the seedings. With 41 teams still undefeated, it seems silly for now to include anyone with a loss.
South Regional (Houston)
01. Memphis: Sitting pretty so far at 5-0.
08. Georgetown: Three steady double-digit wins so far.09. Wisconsin: #1 in the Pomeroy statistical rankings.
16. Duke: Earned their way in with Maui title.
West Regional (Phoenix)
02. UCLA: Howland's defense is killing opponents.
07. Butler: Champs of Alaska Shootout are for real.10. Texas: Stomped a more experienced Vols team.
15. Clemson: Beat the mighty Gardner-Webb.
Midwest Regional (Detroit)
03. Kansas: Won tough early matchup against Arizona.
06. Washington State: Don't get tested until Gonzaga.11. Miami: Puerto Rico champs no longer understaffed.14. Duquesne: After last season's horror, a feel-good story.
East Regional (Charlotte)
04. UNC: Low-scoring but nice wins against Davidson, BYU.
05. Texas A&M: Billy who? NIT champs look mighty strong.12. New Mexico: Mountain West, represent!
13. Southern Illinois: So far, as good as we expected.
Also considered: the other 25 undefeated teams.
Last weekend I re-watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix the way mere mortals do: without an advanced screening, gift certificate, or a run of engagement pass. I disclosed my out-of-touchiness to my viewing companions with an "In my day..." kind of tirade. Forgive my codger-like ways, but seriously, $7.25 for a matinee? Are they trippin'? I don't even want to know what the full evening price is.
I wanted to see the movie again after I'd reread the book series. So I made an exception from my regularly scheduled habit of seeing everything for free, either as a sneak preview or a DVD from the library a few months later. I don't know how everyone else does this regularly. How can you afford it?
Anyway, a new movie theater opens in nearby Henderson next month, and they're having a 3 day pre-opening event where every movie is $2, and all proceeds go to charities. The movies are recent, but not new. Among them is Ocean's Thirteen, which I missed last summer. Is it worth the trip, or should I just wait for the DVD, which is released in mid-November (and could probably get from the library by Thanksgiving)?
To put it another way: is the movie better than this fake trailer?
I was a cosmetic dentistry office today (not for me), and in the waiting room I noticed a table offering coffee and fresh baked, individually wrapped chocolate chip cookies. Surely they must be sugar free, right? Unable to resist, I tried a cookie and bit. Hard.
Not only was it a regular sugary cookie, it was rock solid. Why would a dentist serve items that can stain, chip, and cause cavities in teeth? Then I remembered: this wasn't a regular dentist at all. Cosmetic dentists are different; they're looking for repeat business.
When you live in a city that adds 7,000 new people a month and averages one completed house every 20 minutes, you know there must be a ridiculous amount of residential development. And this presents many important questions. How strained is the already limited water supply? Do legislators feel pressure to let the builder conglomerates have their way? Are contractors relying on less skilled labor just to keep up? Will the legal field of construction defects get out of hand?
Well, you can find those discussions somewhere else. What interests me is the glaring need to name the streets of these sudden subdivisions, and how developers exercise their creativity.
(Which leads to another question: can Google Maps and Mapquest keep up? So far, the answer is no. Roads are built and named so quickly that the newest ones won't make the maps for months.)
Anyway, I thought I would introduce a new feature here at Brevity: cropped screenshots of Las Vegas neighborhoods that have a definite theme. Here's the first.
In case you're curious, Rawhide and Russell are major roads that extend well beyond the 'hood. And Lucas Avenue is actually in a separate subdivision, but I kept it in for the nice coincidence. Neosho is a city in Missouri and a county in Kansas; I don't see the sci-fi significance. (Unless they're referring to Trinity.)
Finally, you have to wonder when "Kenobi" became "Kinobe" in the process. Was it the mistake of the developer, the signmaker, or within the thin layers of bureaucracy in between?
Last week I mentioned that the 7-Eleven convenience store chain is celebrating the release of The Simpsons Movie by converting 11 of its stores into Kwik-E-Marts. I live near one, and because many of you aren't as fortunate, I thought I'd make a 7/11 post and share some pictures.
Bart: OK, we're young, rich, and full of sugar. What do we do?
Milhouse: Let's go crazy, Broadway style!
Mmm, free goo.
The attractions inside are equally impressive. What a bargain!
As in Springfield, this Kwik-E-Mart takes care of Henderson's finest.
As an Indian-American, should I be offended by Apu? I don't think so. Until recently, he's all we had to look at on TV. (Ahem!) Plus, any show that features a Hindi version of "Close to You" deserves our respect. Finally, let's face it: he's funny.
"Check it out, a freezer geezer!" (Do we even know this guy's name?)
Alas, no chutney Squishee. ("You can really taste the chutney!") They also carried Krusty-O's cereal and Buzz cola. No special beer, though; I guess Duffman was busy.
LUCKY DAY: In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For us, El Guapo is a big, dangerous man who wants to kill us. But as sure as my name is Lucky Day, the people of Santa Poco can conquer their own personal El Guapo, who also happens to be THE ACTUAL El Guapo!Actually, I was not referring to ¡Three Amigos! (but can't resist using that upside-down exclamation point). Today is 07/07/07, and that means a lot here in Las Vegas. The World Series of Poker is underway at the Rio. Many couples are getting hitched. Many more singletons are trying to get lucky. And something tells me that slot machine use will be at full capacity.
I think procrastination is my personal El Guapo.
Does Las Vegas have a distinctive type of food? Memphis has its barbecue. Chicago has deep-dish pizza. San Francisco has sourdough bread. Buffalo has, well, buffalo wings.
This city has a taste of everything. There are casinos that try to be like Paris or New York. But the one food that all the best places try to offer is the Italian ice cream known as gelato. Especially in the hot summers, when temperatures can reach 120 degrees, gelato is a delicious way to cool down.
I made sure that Flat Stanley tried gelato before he left Las Vegas.
Here he is in front of a display case showing about 20 freshly made kinds of gelato. In addition to the standard chocolate and vanilla, there were flavors like caramel, cinnamon, pistachio, and papaya.
We bought a scoop of mango and a scoop of blackberry. Both flavors were tasty. Some gelato may have ended up sticking to Flat Stanley's right hand.
All good things must come to an end, and soon Flat Stanley had to leave, and we drove along the Las Vegas Strip on his last night here. Like many tourists, his Vegas experience came in two forms:
(1) A few distinct memories, like seeing this small-scale Statue of Liberty outside the New York-New York Hotel and Casino; and
(2) All the other memories, which combine to form a big blur.
Bon voyage, Flat Stanley!Go back to: The Flat Stanley project
To the kids (and adults) reading this: it is wrong to sneak into movies. That's the same as stealing, and we all know you shouldn't do that. Flat Stanley can get away with it because, well, he's flat; theaters do not make him pay admission.
Flat Stanley joined me and some family and friends to see Spider-Man 3.
The movie is a little scary for small children. There was a moment where Venom (Topher Grace) jumps toward the audience and flashes his sharp teeth while he screams. More importantly, however, there were scenes where Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) would disco dance. I'm an adult, and even I found that frightening.
In the theater's lobby was a giant, life-size display for The Simpsons Movie. Ropes surrounded it so that no one could sit down on the couch, but there's always room for Flat Stanley.
Next: Flat Stanley enjoys gelato
Starting with the 2008 Presidential election, Nevada will be one of the first states that the candidates visit before voters decide which Democrat and which Republican they want to win.
Nevada is an interesting state; the people in Las Vegas and the rest of Clark County vote overwhelmingly Democratic, while the rest of the state votes mostly Republican. Because the city of Las Vegas is so large, this is about an equal number of people.
That's why many famous politicians come to Nevada, specifically Las Vegas. Even President Bush has been here a few times, and Flat Stanley had a chance to meet him.
Well, it was Flat President Bush. Which is fitting, because many of his policies are two-dimensional. Anyway, he spent a few moments talking to Flat Stanley in what I called the Manila Summit:
Only Flat Stanley got the joke.Next: Flat Stanley sneaks into a movie
According to customer surveys, what is the #1 reason to visit Las Vegas? If you answered "gambling," you'd be wrong. While many do come to gamble in the casinos, even more people come here for the shopping.
Flat Stanley is, of course, flat. This means that he's not a big spender. (Even though dollar bills and credit cards are also flat, he has yet to find a flat wallet that can hold them.) So he enjoys window shopping. Below is a store called Five Little Monkeys that carry a number of independently crafted toys as well as some of the major brands.
We were in Mandalay Place, which was added a few years ago to the Mandalay Bay casino. It has two dozen stores that you won't find anywhere else in town. Because shopping has become so important to visitors, every casino on the Las Vegas Strip has tried to create large and glamorous shopping areas. Las Vegas has quickly become of the world's best shopping destinations, carrying stores that you might not even see in New York City or Los Angeles.
Mandalay Place also has something that is a little hard to find in a casino: a family bookstore. The Reading Room is a cozy place where you can catch up on the latest books for kids or grownups.
Here's Flat Stanley catching up on his reading. The book is Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell. I offered him a new Spider-Man pop-up book, but he wanted something more sophisticated.Next: Flat Stanley gets political
People who regularly visit Las Vegas often have a favorite casino. For adults, this may mean the place where they win the most money by gambling, or where the hotel rooms are the nicest, or where they receive the best customer service. For kids and Flat Stanley, however, it's an easy choice: go to the giant black pyramid with the sphinx and the pointy tower in the front.
The Luxor Hotel and Casino is unique because visitors can avoid the casino floor altogether if they don't want to gamble. (In many others, you have to walk through the casino to see everything else the place has to offer.) After we parked, we entered a hallway that advertised some of the shows appearing at the Luxor nightly.
Oh no, not Carrot Top! The loudmouthed comedian that carries a big trunk of funny props was too scary for Flat Stanley, so he closed his eyes.
Much better was the view of the pool, available only to guests of the hotel. You can see part of the pyramid in the background.
The Luxor is decorated with Egyptian-style art, both on the outside...
... and inside. Even guests at other casinos take the time to visit the Luxor just to see its impressive sights. Flat Stanley decided to pose with a few. (Click the picture below to see a larger version.)
Looks like he's at home in this last photo, doesn't he?
Next: Flat Stanley goes shopping
Even the GPS recognizes its uniqueness. No "Nevada State Highway 375" here!
Did anything strange happen? As a matter of fact, yes.
We eventually reached the town of Rachel, Nevada, the only (public) stop on the Extraterrestrial Highway. Not much to it -- some houses, no gas station -- but it does boast the Little A'Le'Inn. Total tourist trap, but I mean that in the nicest way possible.
We had no reservations about entering this fine establishment.
Though some species aren't as comfortable with exiting through the same door. (Note the American flag. Proof positive that the United States is now the most awesome country in the universe. Take note, Stephen Colbert!)
We took a bathroom break and scanned the souvenirs with amusement. While we took our leisurely time, we had to get back on the road. But I couldn't help but feel like we were leaving something -- or someone -- behind.
Semi-related note: last weekend I revisited The X-Files, specifically a two-parter airing on TNT. They were the Morris Fletcher episodes, in which a time/space rift causes Mulder to switch bodies with Michael McKean's character, an Area 51 government tool. The episode is set in Rachel, Nevada and showcases the Little A'Le'Inn, or a larger version of it.
