September 14th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
LuCucina Limerick has a nice recipe for asparagus and parmesan tarts at her italian foodies site.
Have you every wanted to take a shot at making homemade mayonnaise? Delicious days has a receipe that is complete with photos at this link.
Cris Stoddard’s post on the Flickr Blog has some great photos of the Station Fire in California; perhaps great isn’t the right word. Here’s the link.
Hubble Smith writing in the Ls Vegas Review Journal talks about home sales in Las Vegas. Click here to view the article.
September 9th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Summerlin Golf Courses:
This is a continuation of the post that I wrote on Siena Golf Club. The Arroyo Golf Club is the sister club to Siena. That relationship can work in your favor with their special promotion that is currently available. You have a discounted rate if you play both courses within a 5 day time frame.
Arroyo Golf Club 9th Hole.
Arroyo Golf Club #16
Arroyo is an Arnold Palmer designed course in the Red Rock area of Las Vegas.
Number 14
Finnishing Hole at Arroyo Golf Club
The course is located in a planned community of Summerlin and is about 20 miles from The Strip. Arroyo is 6,883 yards and plays to a par 72. The course will challenge you with it’s water hazards and plentiful bunkers. You might want to click here to view my post on Siena Golf Club; it has all the information you need including website links and other information of value.
If your’re heading back to the strip The Red Rock Resort and Casino might be a good side trip; a great place to have a cocktail or gamble away some of your winnings from your round of golf?
Should you choose to play both courses; you might schedule a trip to Red Rock Canyon between rounds of golf. This is a great place to rock climb or to just take a short hike and enjoy the wonder of the Canyon.
September 3rd, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Summerlin golf courses offer some of the most dramatic views in the Las Vegas Valley. The towering background of the Spring Mountain Range is a perfect backdrop for an early round of golf with your buddies.
I dropped by The Siena Golf Club a couple of weeks ago and thought I would share my experience. Siena’s rolling fairways and artful bunkers are the first thing that meets the eye. Remember, artful can sometimes be tough and these look to be!
The golf course was designed by Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt. They have worked extensively with golf’s biggest names – including Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Fred Couples and Nick Faldo on numerous high-profile projects. This one is a beauty.
I met with Tony Lenzie the Director of Golf at Siena and he provided me with the photos for the post. The ability to use a lot of photos on a blog is a big advantage; it does give you a feel for what you can experience.
So, if you are heading to Vegas avoiding the rain or snow; Siena is a course that you want to put on your list. Locals are the heart and soul of our courses in Las Vegas and are always welcome.
There is a definite Italian influence in the architecture at the Club.
The Siena Golf Club is a gathering place for fine dining and many other social events. The Siena Bistro, a 2,500 sq. ft. Italian-themed restaurant and bar features a private patio with fireplace and a casual patio that provides beautiful panoramic views of the golf course, Lake Siena and the Las Vegas Strip.
Chef Daniel Concepcion’s desire to serve great food has rewarded Siena with “The Best Kept Secret Restaurant”, “Best Wedding Venue” from Five Star Reviews Magazine.
Siena Bistro also offers a regular daily menu serving breakfast, lunch and the most recently added “Siena Nights” dinner menu available on Wednesday and Thursdays from 5:00-9:00p.m. Other favorite seasonal buffets such as the Sunday Brunch, Easter Champagne Brunch, Mother’s Day Brunch and the Thanksgiving Day Brunch always bring a crowd.
Kinda draw you in? Their website can be reached by clicking here.
August 30th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
The best outdoor dining in Las Vegas is on a lake.
On Lake Jacqueline in the community of Desert Shores you’ll find Garfield’s. I seriously don’t think you will find a better atmosphere for family dining; it’s a special place with special people. Garfield’s is a family restaurant with a French twist.
The restaurant has a nautical feel and the patio dining, on the water, is wonderful. The Las Vegas weather is so conducive to this style of dining, especially as we enter the month of September.
Garfield’s is named in honor of Sir Garfield Sobers, Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on the playing fields of Barbados in 1975. Sir Garfield is considered the greatest all-around Cricket player of all time.
Executive Chef Jean-David Groff-Daudet is on the left.
I was the guest of Executive Chef Jean-David Groff-Daudet, “Chef JD,” for an afternoon lunch. The Chef suggested their Panini Seven Hours Leg of Lamb with roasted peppers, Harissa dressing on Ciabatta Bread. The sandwich was delicious and perfect for an afternoon meal on the lake.
For the full article click here.
August 24th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
This weeks Summerlin News and Blogpaper starts with a great recipe from italian foodies. Lorraine has a wonderful sense of taste and style. Her photos really draw you in; kinda makes you hungry? Here is her link from accross the Atlantic.
Here is a piece from Michael Malandra. Michael is an extremely gifted landscape photograher and water color artist. He posted this back in June; he has some really stunning photographs that I thought you would appreciate. Michael has an affinity for the Southwest and Las Vegas. You can browse his site and he will share his experiences with you. Sometimes its just fun to explore someones site; enjoy his passion.
So what is life like at a research camp in Antartica? Zach Shepard wrote a post for the Fickr blog and you can find out. Great photos and much cooler than Vegas.
More cute from Cute Overload.
How about a Robot to help you clean the house? Laura June writing for Engadget shows us a little peak at the future; who knows what they will be able to do in 50 years!
Have a great week!
August 22nd, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
The Kellogg-Zaher Sports complex off of Washington, in the Summlin area, is a park where you can do just about anything that you want. The park is another monument to urban planning in Las Vegas. They may pack the homes together rather tightly but the communities all seem to have an abundance of parks and facilities that provide our children with endless hours of enjoyment.
Soccer is big time in Las Vegas and you will find many fields of dreams.
I actually drove by the complex to take a few photos of the Dog Park. It was a quiet day; not too many of our furry friends were around. This is a photo of the dog park for larger dogs over 25 pounds.
The action was at the park for dogs 25 pounds and under; pretty laid back.
A great place to sniff around and be with your pals.
Just spending some quality time with your best friend ranks up there pretty high.
August 17th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Here is the last post from Kathleen Cragun on Home Staging.
Before I get to that rocket science part, I want to refer to an article in last Sunday’s Seattle Times (June 3). In the Real Estate section was an article on tips to make your house sell fast, introduced by a huge picture. Much good advice was given BUT a few things made me cringe, so I just want to warn you what NOT to do.
Do not paint your kitchen cupboards Gloss white. I already mentioned not to use gloss white on walls in an earlier post. When was the last time you saw a new model home that had GLOSS white cabinets? White maybe, but NOT gloss. If you are redoing old cabinets Gloss white will show every flaw, every brush stroke, every imperfection! It is a finish that should only be done by professionals ( sprayed on) but also one that is not really a “with it” thing to do.
If your cabinets are stained wood, there are products you can get, like Cabinet Magic, Liquid Gold, that will cover scratches and revitalize cabinets, sometimes miraculously. They are also easy to apply, most are rubbed on with a soft cloth. Oak cabinets almost always look bad painted. Regarding painting anything, it is very important that it be done well. If you can’t do it well, you shouldn’t do it yourself. It takes time and patience and skill to do a good job. Prepare to give it that. It isn’t called sweat equity for nothin’.
Other advice in the article regarding fixing up Kitchens and Bathrooms, “You can do all this for cheap.” If it looks like you did it “on the cheap”, it will not help you sell your house. A very good bit of advice given was to hire a home inspector yourself to go through your home and get a list of things that need to be fixed. That way you shouldn’t have any unpleasant surprises when your buyer’s inspection is done. I have done this and it was very helpful and brought peace of mind.
The idea of staging is to present your home to stand out from the rest. It should be a well-maintained home, not just looked like one on the surface. We want the buyer to be happy living in the home, not just happy buying it, don’t we? No cover ups, no law suits.
Many of the clients I have advised on fixing their homes before they sold, did quite extensive things like replacing very outdated kitchens and bathrooms. When they saw how good they looked, every single one wished they had done these things as they lived there and enjoyed it themselves as well. Something to think about!
OK, OK, The Rocket Science part. Presentation. Now that you have done all the things recommended in the first three posts, the fun part begins but also the part that you may want to call in your staging advisor to complete. Not all designers and stagers are created equal. Some are better than others just as some home builders, lawyers and hairstylists are better than others. This is advice I should have given you in the beginning.
Ask your real estate agent for a referral to someone who does it right. Check out a portfolio of before and after photos. Look at model homes they have done or if you have the chance to see, what does their own home look like?
For the full article click here.
August 14th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Home Staging Las Vegas – Part Three.
After you have fixed and repaired it is time to declutter! And you can’t just stuff it all in the closets because people do want to see how the storage stacks up. They open up drawers, cupboards and closets if they are even somewhat interested in your house. Spend some time tidying these up and cleaning. You will have far less to do when you start serious packing, so it will help in two ways. The best solution is to rent a storage unit. Start packing up the things you don’t use very often, if at all. Too crowded with furniture, store it! 2nd best, pack up smaller stuff in boxes and put in the garage, but a garage isnt too impressive stuffed with excess furniture. Get a storage unit. Call the Salvation Army or St Vinnie’s.
Things to make disappear: Most of the stuff on your kitchen counter tops, i.e. kitchen appliances, except for a toaster; that dead plant you keep trying to revive, any cleaning supplies, soap, dish rags and so on. Only a few strategic and attractive items should be left. Banish as well that pot rack and hanging pots, refrigerator magnets and notes, dishes in the sink, toothbrushes and personal grooming items, towels in bad condition and uncoordinated colors, ugly shower curtains, stuff on window ledges, scatter rugs, too many plants, too many pillows, too many cars, too many accessories, too many of anything! If the things left are arranged with skill, less will be more. It’s the KISS principle. Keep It Simple Staging! If in doubt, throw it out!
For the full article click here.
August 12th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Here is the second post on Home Staging in Las Vegas; again my thanks goes out to Kathleen Cragun who authored this article.
In my first post on staging your home in preparation to putting it on the market, I mentioned Clean up…Clear out…Fix In…Fix Out. Let’s start with Fix Out. Backwards, yes but the saying sounds better that way! Take a note pad with you and go outside. Better than that go across the street and look at your house. Pretend you don’t live there. Can you see the house? Does it look inviting? Is the yard mowed, trimmed, clear of stuff. Is the paint peeling or does the driveway, sidewalk or the roof have moss on it. Imagine the For Sale sign out front. If you (remember you dont live here) drove by and saw that sign would the house beckon you to take a look? We are talking Curb Appeal.
The pots out front add charm but the base of the pots could stand a little scrubbing. You cant see it here but a tree near by is overgrown and parts are dying. Time for a replacement. If you are selling right away get bigger plants instead of waiting for them to grow a bit. Some nurseries will help you select plants and even plant them for you, but there are all kinds of books and magazines that tell you how to do that. And don’t forget to water them daily if the weather is warm. Make sure your front door is in good shape and painted a pleasing color. Spray painting the door is preferable so you don’t have brush strokes. And you need to take the door OFF to do that. New bark in the planting beds is usually a good idea.
For the full article click here.
August 11th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
My rock climbing friend, Gary Savage, is at it again! This time he is attempting to fulfill a dream that he has had since he was 16 years old.
Gary packed his climbing gear and is currently on the slopes of Grand Teton.
I doubt that Toby will be making this trip with him; Toby is Gary’s constant companion and you will find him on most of his rock climbing adventures.
Grand Teton is in the state of Wyoming and climbs to 13,760 feet above sea level; and is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful mountains. Under the direction and experience of a seasoned mountain guide this mountain is accessible to many.
Most climbing on the Grand begins in early June and ends in mid-September. I’m not really sure if this is a summit attempt or if Gary just wants to do some rock climbing. The photo above would indicate to me that he is or was close.
If he does summit the mountain; I’m sure he will have some photos for me to post.
