As Vegas’ premier exhibition venue, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art showcases magnificent works of art within a AAA Five Diamond Award resort setting.

Located in the heart of the Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas you’ll find the Gallery of Fine Art. Stop by and visit current exhibits to see the artworks that have come from museums as well as private collections.

Here you can expect to view a gallery committed to the presentation of intimate exhibitions of the world’s most compelling artists.

Each year the gallery presents world-class exhibitions of artworks and objects drawn from internationally acclaimed museums and private collections.

Definitely a things to do in Las Vegas for art enthusiasts and those interested in expanding their cultural knowledge.

Squaw Valley is the American birthplace of extreme skiing. About twenty years ago, Squaw locals began skiing impossible lines from the Palisades, essentially a cliff with snow stuck to it.

To earn your spurs as an extreme skier or snowboarder—or “freerider” in the current nomenclature of mountain sports—all roads lead through Squaw.

But the extreme reputation aside, Squaw is actually a reasonably well-rounded ski area. There’s a good amount of skiing for all ability levels, and the relatively new Resort at Squaw Creek is an exercise in extreme pampering. Squaw skiing can be ridiculously intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. An on-mountain demo center opened in 2005.

Squaw’s extreme rep may overshadow the mellower side of the mountain, which is more substantial than you might think. From High Camp, about halfway up the mountain, there is plenty of novice and lower-intermediate terrain.

Intermediates tend to congregate around High Camp, too, although there are longer intermediate runs from the Squaw Creek Chair.

As for expert skiing, the number of intriguing lines is impossible to calculate. KT-22 and the Headwall Express are particularly popular.

Squaw Valley USA
Snow Phone/24 Hour Info: (530) 583-6955

Long gone are the days when the passion for jewelry rested with women alone.

Nowadays, men are becoming as enamored with jewelry and accessories as they are with cars, hi-tech gadgets and gizmos.

Jewelry designers have finally woken up to this fact and are now offering exclusive and extensive men’s range of jewelry, ranging right from diamond-studded watches to bracelets, chains and pendants. In this section, we take a look on the latest developments in this trend along with the major newsmakers in this aspect.

The Beckham Story :

Speaking of men’s jewelry, soccer star David Beckham created quite a stir when he displayed a dazzling collection of men’s jewelry at his famous pre-World Cup party. England’s Ashley Cole, who arrived wearing only jewelry and no shirt under his dinner jacket, assisted him in his efforts.

This was further followed by a charity auction wherein Beckham showcased his exquisite diamond encrusted watch, created by Jacob Arabo. In addition, Beckham was also perhaps the first man to publicly wear two diamond earrings, placing men’s’ jewelry fashion firmly on the front stage and marking the onset of an amazing trend.

The New Scenario :

Jewelry is no longer the domain of women only. Men have largely come to accept and recognize jewelry a symbol of class and style. Urban men, who like to appear trendy, are also taking to the ornaments to add a hip look to their appearances. The exclusive men’s’ jewelry showrooms have mushroomed in the last few years, catering to the growing need of the contemporary generation.

This trend is further accentuated by the portrayal of men supporting flashy pieces of jewelry in cinema. From the mafia kings carrying extravagant neckpieces, to the young lover wearing a kinky bracelet gifted by his fianc, men across all channels are being quick enough to adopt the trend.

In addition, where earlier gold was almost the only choice, nowadays platinum, diamonds and even stones rule the rooster. The likes of exclusive platinum or combination of metals, diamond encrusted rings and earrings dominate the scene, though smaller trinkets also appear in the picture. The entire trend gives enough reason to the jewelry and fashion industry to invest substantive resources in the men’s jewelry lines.

By the look of it, in a few years time, it is quite possible that men’s jewelry will be available to suit all types of budgets and tastes, not just remaining as the exclusive domain of the rich and famous.

For a truly unusual Hawaii adventure, you can’t beat the allure of a scenic boat cruise up the Wailua River to a lava rock grotto covered with tropical ferns.  The Fern Grotto is only accessible via a short boat trip up the Wailua River.  Along with the cruise boats, kayakers, motor boats and water skiers also make the journey.

The memorable trip up the historic and sacred Wailua River will take about 40 minutes via a long flat bottom riverboat. To keep the crowds moving, boats depart from the south side of the river every 30 minutes.

During the short cruise to the Fern Grotto, you will encounter numerous photo opportunities of the tropical grasslands which line the river in addition to the cloud-capped Mt. Waialeale looming in the background.

Once you arrive at this famous Kauai destination, visitors to the fern grotto will receive a serenade by Hawaiian musicians playing traditional, local songs. The acoustics within this lush, natural amphitheater are incredible and will greatly enhance the singing and guitar accompaniment.

Once you arrive at the Fern Grotto, visitors will view a cave cloaked with ferns and cooled by the mists of a waterfall.

Viewing the Fern Grotto wasn’t as simple as it is now. There was a time when the Grotto was off-limits to all but Hawaiian royalty. But for more than 50 years, riverboats have provided tours of the site. The Grotto and nearby Paradise gardens are a popular place for wedding ceremonies. Another way to see the Grotto is to rent a kayak and paddle up the river on your own.

Directions :
Take Highway 56 north towards Wailua.  Cruise boats and kayak rentals are located on the south side of the Wailua River (before crossing bridge).

Catamaran sailing is not something you’ll learn on the regular sailing programs, since most navigation practice is carried out on monohulls.

The reason for such measures is the higher difficulty to operate multi-hulls as it is the case with the catamaran. Sailing experience combined with personal enthusiasm will eventually help one sail a catamaran, and enjoy the stability, the speed and the challenge of such a boat.

What are the elements to consider for one who is ready to invest in sailing gear? First of all, gloves and special foot wear like dinghy boots for instance, are first on the list. Then, there is the life jacket and the foul weather sailing gear. The latter includes both pants and jacket that keep off humidity. And last but not least, there are the wet and dry suits that should not miss from the sailor’s wardrobe; they keep you warm even in water or on very cold weather.

The most common mistake people make on their first sailing vacations is to pack way too much. Casual is the word to describe life on an island, so you won’t be needing fancy clothes and all sorts of gadgets. Sailing vessels impose limitations in terms of storage space, and hard-sided luggage are surely not a good idea to take with you.

Go for canvas or duffel bags that can be folded into occupying less room. Small baggage that can be taken with you on the plane also save you the trouble of having to deal with lost luggage when you arrive on the island.

Widely spread in the entire Oceania and Polynesia, catamaran sailing had a great influence on the design of leisure boats with multiple hulls. The power engine represents the options to wind and water current power in catamaran propelling, however the true feeling of the sea is attained by understanding the winds and decoding the message of the waves.

There are many types of sand yachts used for land sailing, and according to their distinct features, such vehicles compete in variety of classes. Thus, the biggest yachts in land sailing competitions are known as Class 2. All of them have very large masts with big sails that lend significant power to the vehicles; yet, the size could be an impediment to reaching high speed.

More popular than Class 2 is Class 3 that is very similar in design, but on a smaller scale. Designed according to high-tech principles, such yachts make land sailing really fast. Usually made of fiberglass, Kevlar and carbon fiber, these vehicles will reach 60 miles per hour during a sand yacht race.

For those with unique tastes and looking for cutting edge luxury gifts, then Vikki Smyth has something special for you. Vikki offers a high end, food-presentationware / luxury table top / gift line that will definitely please even the most demanding consumer.

Vikki describes her clientele as “people who are looking for uniqueness, whether it be in food, wine, fashion, travel, or in products.”

Vikki works with high end hotels such as Ritz’s, Four Seasons, and W Hotels, just to name a few. They use her unique goods for food display. Her signature piece is the Sushi-Ushi. This table top piece is quite a stunner, and is her biggest seller. Sushi-Ushi is unique, absolutely gorgeous, and her packaging is killer – it literally screams luxury!

Sushi-Ushi is define as “Playful Luxury at your fingertips”.

This award-winning, eye-catching food-presentationware platter suggests both intrigue and savoir-faire. Sleek and elegant, this one-inch-thick, clear rectangular platter rests upon an enticing arrangement of brilliantly colored acrylic blocks. Compelling presentation tantalizes your guests’ taste buds allowing your freedom of artistry to be expressed . . . the perfect playmate for a heightened culinary experience.

Sushi-Ushi is available in 3 sizes: 36”x6”w/24 blocks; 25”x5” w/18 blocks; and 20”x4” w/12 blocks.

Vikki Smyth just finished designing a brand new bath line exclusive to Encore Hotel in Vegas (Steve Wynn’s new hotel). You can find more information on her website.

Vikki also does custom work and has various clients that will request sculptural pieces. An example is she’s currently designing a 7 foot by 3 foot glittery guitar to be placed on a wall for a famous rock star.

To view all of Vikki Smyth’s fabulous product line, visit her website at: www.vikkismyth.com

Vikki Smyth Inc.
www.vikkismyth.com
Phone: (310) 829-3937
Toll Free: (866) 417-0481
Fax: (310) 829-3929

If you are looking to bring more sophistication to your life, the BMW M5, embodies class and style all with everything it stands for.

The M5 is equipped to take you and your entourage anywhere you want to go, equipped to seat five passengers comfortably, there is plenty of room for everyone to fit without feeling the least bit cramped.

Although the M5 appears to have a modest look, don’t let the exterior fool you. This BMW is probably faster than most other cars in its class. Not only does it beat out others with its fast speed it also has impeccable stopping capabilities as well as handling capabilities that will take turns and rough patches with ease.

This high speed BMW doesn’t just come with a speedy athletic package it also the brains the too. The M5 comes standard with an MDrive that is located on the steering wheel. The MDrive button will allow the driver to customized their favorite settings and the car will remember it for next time. If you travel a certain path to work every day, this BMW will memorize every mile you pass. Smart and sophisticated, what more could you ask for?

Because of a few added bells and whistles, this BMW M5 doesn’t come cheap, although above average, the price tag is well worth it. This car makes for a sophisticated drive that is flashy enough on both the interior and exterior to turn some heads and cause a little stir. Although it doesn’t live up the flashy flair of most BMW’s in its class, the M5 makes up for it with its brain and it’s brawn, leaving you anything but disappointment.

Enjoying the life that you have worked hard to maintain makes it all that more pleasurable with the BMW M5. Sometimes things are actually better on the inside than from how they appear on the outside and the BMW M5 is a good example of that.  Author: Richard McCombe

(Photo by: Newsday)

The ultra-luxury Caesars Palace, has once again raised the quality standard of sizzling Las Vegas nightlife with this destination lounge.

Shadow Bar at Caesars Palace Las Vegas is a lounge and nightlife hotspot that features shadow dancers.

Shadow Bar offers a long menu of exotic cocktails that are served by bartenders who entertain by juggling bottles, tossing limes, twirling glassed and performing back-flips as they prepare cocktails.

Shadow Bar also offers appetizers in the evenings that include sushi platters, smoked salmon, fresh oysters, fresh fruits, crab cakes, cheeses, and even beluga caviar.

(Photo by: Newsday)

Michelle Obama has been called “my rock” by her proud husband, President Barack Obama. Amongst the wild presidential ride she’s endured, she’s said this many times: nowhere but in America would her story be possible.

Born Michelle LaVaughn Robinson on January 17, 1964, Michelle grew up in a working class Chicago neighborhood during a time the United States embarked on some of the most tumultuous years of the civil rights movement.

She was the daughter of a local water treatment plant worker who suffered from multiple sclerosis. Michelle Obama rose to attend two of the most prestigious universities in the United States – Princeton as an undergraduate and then followed by Harvard Law School.

Unlike her husband Barack Obama, who was the son of a Kenyan student and white Kansas mother, Michelle Obama can trace her family tree back to the beginnings of slavery in the U. S. and embodies the heritage of the nation’s African Americans.

Given all the media attention, Michelle Obama is now being touted as the first fashion icon to inhabit the White House since Jacqueline Kennedy nearly a half-century ago.

From the shape of her eyebrows to her Jackie O-esque hair, Michelle Obama’s look has become a nationwide obsession.

But it seems that Obama’s approach to fashion is different than that of Jacqueline Kennedy.

Kennedy was all about designers and pale colors. Obama shops off the rack at stores ranging from J.Crew to White House / Black Market. And when Michelle does wear a designer label it tends to be Maria Pinto, a Chicago-based designer relatively unknown until recently.

Obama goes for color. Black and red prints, and dresses in red, coral, violet and purple all spiced the campaign trail. Stripes don’t scare her, even when they’re horizontal. With her lean body and impeccable posture, anything she wears seems to work.

President Barack Obama is immensely proud of his wife, and her accomplishments. For much of their married life for instance, she earned more than him especially in at the University of Chicago medical center.

“Most people who meet my wife quickly conclude that she is remarkable. They are right about this — she is smart, funny, and thoroughly charming. She is also very beautiful,” he said recently.

Regardless of how the future unfolds, Michelle Obama will become the ultimate symbol of the American dream, as the first African American first lady, as Barack Obama takes the presidential oath of office.

It’s no secret that Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest sports gambling day of the year. The various sports books in the state of Nevada expect to take in over $90 million in bets! This estimate is slightly down from last years amount of $92 million.

Anybody who visits bustling Las Vegas knows it’s a whirlwind of sensory on steroids overload. You experience smoke-filled rooms and larger-than-life televisions in sparkling high-definition.

As the big game nears, betters wait in anticipation of Sin City’s biggest sports gambling day of the year. While the rest of the nation recently wrapped up its holiday season, Las Vegas sports books are readying themselves for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve all wrapped in one glorious afternoon of hedonism – Super Bowl Sunday.

All that matters is what happens on the field, not what bets are made in Las Vegas. The Pittsburgh Steelers are one touchdown favorites in most betting books, over the surprising Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. A missed call by the refs or a muffed play by some rookie back-up can mean a swing of millions of dollars either won and lost.

Yes, economic hard times have even affected the usually nonplussed gamblers among us.

The allure of Super Bowl Sunday is not easy to miss. Given the pairing of our national obsession with the NFL and gambling, it makes sense that the two paradymes join forces so nicely on Super Sunday, considered by many a national holiday.

Regardless of how you feel about football or betting in general, this is really big business, and not for the faint of heart.

In Las Vegas, even though the game is often played on the other side of the continent, the Super Bowl draws visitors at a rate comparable to any national event such as New Year’s Eve, the Chinese holidays and college basketball’s March Madness.

What many don’t realize is that the bets are not only made on the final winning team or score but hundreds of variations and even events that don’t transpire between the two football teams.

For example, sports books take bets on which team will win the coin flip, how long it will take Jennifer Hudson to sing the national anthem (with the over-under opening at 1 minute, 55 seconds), which song Bruce Springsteen will begin the halftime show with, and how many different food types broadcaster John Madden will mention during the telecast.

The Thienpont family’s Chateau Le Pin venture is another garage wine. In an average year, they produce about 6,000 bottles of this fine Pomerol on five acres of land.

The Chateau Le Pin Pomerol 1999 is truly one of the most illustrious wines to come out of Bordeaux. Its fullness comes from the downy levels of mocha, black cherry and currant flavors. It’s a favorite of serious wine collectors.

Chateau Le Pin Pomerol 1999 is full bodied and as loaded with tannins as it is with fruits. This is a wine that opens in the glass, revealing layer after layer of complexity and richness.

With flavors that linger seemingly without end on the palate, this is a wine that will drink well as it ages, especially about twenty years or longer down the road . If you’ve got to compare it to anything at all, think of the exquisite 1990 vintage wine.

Chateau Le Pin Pomerol 1999 will cost you about $900 a bottle.