Champagne & Caviar Affair - Delicious!

Our annual private Champagne & Caviar Affair event was held at the secluded MGM Mansion: a most spectacular 18th century Tuscan Villa.

We started in the Grande Salon sipping cognac and walked the manicured gardens, admired the limestone fountains and just enjoyed a serene Las Vegas evening. We all wandered back to the villa to be greeted by chilled Russian Vodka and an array of caviar with tastings from California Golden Osetra to Iranian Special Reserve.

The evening continued as we sipped Krug and admired an intoxicating display of Crocant Gaudi, Trout Roe Tempura, Chocolate & Eucalyptus with Pear Sorbet, Lollipop of White Chocolate & Lemon Candy and trysts of Bread with Tomatoe & Rosemary Butter.

The finale was a delicacy brought in by our member R.B. and we thank you whole heartedly as we will have imbedded in our taste pallets forever your gift of White Truffles.

There is only one word for the entertainment - unbelievable. The evening was remarkable as twenty members and five guests mingled until dawn. Next year's reservations are accepted with an $18,000 deposit. We are increasing the reservation list to forty as all twenty members reserved. We have invited all five of the guests to join… a first!

Palazzo's Now Home to Bauman Rare Books

Last year's 2007 Best Of Book Collections, J N Bartfield, has a serious competitor and its all about location, location, location - here in Las Vegas, our very own Bauman Rare Book hideaway at the Palazzo.

While the Palazzo is well... not Wynn... they do have Barneys and Bauman! While many bibliophiles accumulate volumes for a personal library, the serious book collector is interested in the physical books themselves, not just their content. Bauman offers the quality.

I know many of you banter/joke about my intense descriptions for delicacies, shoes, shows and dining and sipping and I have been challenged to bring excitement to as so unelequently put by DMT buying a 'book.'

Here goes Debbi-doubter: many collectors seek out first editions of books, or acquire copies of every work written by a particular author or on a particular subject. There are billions of books in the world, and thousands of bookstores, and while manuscript books are all expensive, even incunabula (books printed in the 15th century) can be found for several hundred US dollars.

Advanced collectors may pursue the great rarities; the Gutenberg Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio are famous (and pricey). On the other hand, so long as a book (or anything else) is and appears likely to continue to be easily procurable at any moment, no one has any reason for collecting it. Beginning to sound interesting? It has even been laid down that the ultimate rarity of books varies in the inverse ratio of the number of copies originally printed, and though the generalization is a little sweeping, it is not far from the truth.

To triumph over small difficulties being the chief element in games of skill, the different varieties of book-collecting, which offer almost as many varieties of grades of difficulty, make excellent hobbies. Neither the collector nor the curator can be content to keep a mere curiosity-shop. It is the collector's business to illustrate his central idea by his choice of examples, by the care with which he describes them and the skill with which they are arranged. In all these matters many amateurs rival, if they do not outstrip, the professional curators and librarians, and not seldom their collections are made with a view to their ultimate transference to public ownership.

In any case it is by the zeal of collectors that books which otherwise would have perished from neglect are discovered, cared for and preserved, and those who achieve these results certainly deserve our attention. Oh, and if you have to ask the cost, then you have chosen the wrong hobby.

Advice Regarding Las Vegas High Rise Condo Purchases

We live in a litigious society where lawsuits can be found everywhere. If you have the wherewithall to even consider purchasing a high rise condo in Las Vegas or anywhere else for that matter, allow me to suggest you purchase the property in the form of a corporation or LLC. There are tremendous advantages of setting up your purchase in this manner, especially in Las Vegas which is very business-setup friendly with its minimal reporting and disclosure requirements amongst a whole list of great reasons for Nevada LLC formation.

I recommend you contact Tax Specialists, Ltd, not just for buying real estate in the form of a corporation or LLC, but even if you're thinking about starting your own business or whatever business venture you're considering. I have found their educational and "hand holding" approach will provide you with the guidance you'll need to make sure you're protected in today's crazy world.

You read stories constantly of people tripping on property and suing the owner. And can you imagine the can of worms you're opening up if you're purchasing a high rise condo with the intent of renting it out!? Every time I see a purchase contract with an individual's name on it, I cringe. Real estate today needs to be purchased in the name of a Corporation or LLC - period.

The bottom line is that owning property and/or doing business in the form of a corporation or LLC can help protect your personal assets from frivolous lawsuits and unscrupulous creditors. Don't be subject to creditor attacks on your real estate or business. Visit the Tax Specialists, Ltd. website today at www.taxlv.com for more information on how incorporation can work for you.

Ridges in Summerlin Re-Defines the Meaning of Living Well

Nestled beside the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area along the western rim of the Las Vegas valley, The Ridges in Summerlin is an exclusive 800-acre village, recognized as one of the most desirable golf course communities in the country, and features a dazzling array of contemporary homes in the quiet serenity of the Nevada desert. The amenities found at The Ridges are second to none, and include a 10,000-square-foot private resident clubhouse and the world’s first Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course.

Now you can discover this prestigious estate community for yourself at the 2008 Las Vegas Parade of Homes event, from April 18th through May 4th. Sophisticated elegance is found in every detail and no two homes are alike at the Ridges. Experience amazing views of the Spring Mountain Range as well as the fabulous Las Vegas strip and enjoy the following amenities:

• 24-hour guard-gated entryway
• 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course
• Tennis Complex
• State-of-the-art Fitness Center
• Resort-style swimming and lap pool
• Private residents-only clubhouse
• Walking trails, parks, and outdoor children's play areas.

At The Ridges in Summerlin, residents enjoy the seclusion, conveniences, and world-class comforts that go hand-in-hand with the luxury lifestyle. Custom homesites are also available. From the exquisite architectural details of its homes to the thoughtful design of its desert landscaping, The Ridges offers homebuyers a fresh, exhilarating new way to experience "The City That Never Sleeps". Contact us for more information regarding pricing and availabilities at this amazing community.

Real Steals on Las Vegas High Rise Condos Are Out There - Wait for Them!

Buyers for Las Vegas high rise condos are continuing to wait for the real estate market to drop and hit bottom - and you know what? They are right to do just that! This market still seems to be on a downward spiral and I'm encouraging buyers to now "sit tight" unless a REAL STEAL of a deal comes along.

How do you recognize a real steal of a deal? (RSD) Well... if a condo at the Panorama high rise project is listed at $300K, it's a real steal deal - especially since that's just the listed price (you'll probably be able to get it under that amount! Interested?).

Buying a high rise condo at a $100K discount that is already 12 to 24 months old is a REAL STEAL DEAL! Think about it: do you think the developers could build a high rise with the intention of selling each unit for $299K? Do you think the developers could even cover their construction costs by selling beautiful units such as these at those prices? NO WAY!

If you have champagne taste and can only afford beer, there are situations developing in this market that are perfect for you. Remember, despite what you read in the paper, there are still 40 cranes in the sky, there's million dollar construction going on, and 100,000 jobs are on their way. Continue to read this blog or subscribe to our deal service for the lastest RSD's we come across.

According to R.Keith Schwer of the Clark County Economic Research team:

"The difficulties of getting housing back on its feet will not come quickly. Indeed, it is possible that we may not experience much of a recession or depression, but the subsequent recovery may not be much either. The new Strip properties in 2009, however will likely be robust enough to push the local economy into the next expansion phase, regardless of the drag in 2008."

So if you're not getting a RSD, then just sit tight, wait it out, and don't buy anything unless the deal is a steal. Good times await!