Saturday, September 14, 2013

Pinball Hall

Pinball Hall of Fame Description

A symphony of quarters clanging, low-fi beeps, upbeat digital sounds and faintly distorted classic rock provides the ambiance for the Pinball Hall of Fame.
Suggestive marquee art shows women in retro-futurist outfits that seem to be pulled straight out of a version of “Lost in Space” that was confined to the back of the video store.
Cartoons, both generic and familiar, make you feel just a bit too comfortable with parting with your money, while rock stars and TV characters from yesteryear beckon — and sometimes even mock you – in an attempt to nab a few more bucks.
“It’s a one of a kind attraction,” said Tim Arnold, the Michigan native who can often be seen digging into circuit boards and wires while fixing a machine.
The Pinball Hall of Fame looks like a plain warehouse with white walls and concrete floors. You hardly notice this, though, as your attention is immediately drawn to the noise and color of aisles upon aisles of amusement machines.
“Nobody else has this many machines and nobody else has the technical knowledge [to maintain them],” he said.
“The idea was simple: You put pinball machines in a big building then people come to play them.”
It’s hard not to part with your quarters at the largest collection of pinball machines in the world. Patrons have more than 200 pinball and arcade machines to choose from, ranging from simpler 1940s games to extravagant interactive tables based on “Avatar,” “Iron Man” and other recent films.
Yes, pinball machines are still being made.
The newer machines tend to have more gimmicks and (literal) bells and whistles: It’s surprisingly cool when you hear Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise say “All hands, prepare for multiball” or to play out the plot of “Terminator 2” with naught but a steel sphere.
Then there are original tables like the sci-fi themed and cheesecake-art-laden “Centigrade 37,” white-hat cowboy and Western trope-heavy “Lawman,” and the far-too-literal “Pinball,” each weave their own narrative in your imagination, without relying on voiceovers, brief video clips and glued-on action figures to do so.
These older machines don’t retell part of someone else’s story — they get the ball rolling and let you tell your own. It’s a throwback to an era when you used your imagination to fill in the blanks.
It’s important to appreciate these unique machines. As Tim Arnold insists, the Pinball Hall of Fame is about preserving history just as much as it is about having fun.
With no admission cost, just the cost of however many games you play, it’s a bargain. Best of all: Your quarters will go to a good cause. The Hall of Fame donates mostly to the Salvation Army, in addition to other non-denominational charities in the Las Vegas Valley.
“It’s unique, affordable entertainment and it helps the community. That’s a slam dunk, if you ask me.”
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Nevada State Museum

Family Flowers: Traditional Embroidery from S. Mexico
Through 2013, the rotating gallery at the Nevada State Museum presents the colorful embroidery of Romeo Siguenza, a Las Vegas folk artist, originally from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico. The culturally significant handmade pieces tell the story of how traditional arts are passed down through generations
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Nevada State Railroad

Nevada State Railroad Museum Description

How many people can honestly say that they've ridden on a real train before? 
To experience an authentic train ride, take a trip to Boulder City, located only 30 minutes south of the Las Vegas Strip. This is the original train track used to bring supplies to the Hoover Dam. Today, guests can ride the train and listen to history about Boulder City, the city responsible for building the dam. 
"We get people from all over the world," said Bonnie Himka, a train engineer and volunteer for Nevada State Railroad Museum. "This is the only place you can ride a full-sized train in Nevada." 
Guests have the option of riding in an open air car or in one of the air conditioned/heated Pullman coaches. The open air car is great for picture taking, while the coaches are a great way to beat the heat or cold. In addition to the recorded narration, volunteers dressed in railroad attire are available to answer any questions and share fun facts during the ride.
The train ride is seven miles round trip and drives up to Railroad Pass casino and back. The entire ride is 45 minutes long, so you'll have plenty of time to take pictures. See planes land at the Boulder City airport, the lush greenery at the golf course and even a solar panel farm. You'll also see close-up views of the Southwest desert. During one point, the train comes so close to the side of the mountain you can almost touch it. 
A gift shop is also available. There is a complimentary ride that takes you to see all the old train cars. 
If you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the Strip, a train ride in Boulder City is the perfect remedy.
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Mount Charleston

Mount Charleston Description

Las Vegas sizzles with excitement, but let's face it -- the summer heat can get out of control. Temperatures reaching 115 degrees. The 160th straight day of sun. Even the most ardent of sun worshippers are looking for a break and hotel swimming pools and air-conditioned malls just aren't enough.
Luckily just 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas visitors can find all the cool mountain breezes, fresh air and all-around scenic beauty of Mount Charleston.
Part of the Spring Mountain Range and Toiyabe National Forest, Mount Charleston ranges from 3,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation. It is Nevada's eighth-highest mountain peak and one of the Top 10 most topographically prominent peaks in the United States.
Featuring trees like juniper, mountain mahogany, Aspen and Ponderosa pine and animals such as wild burros, songbirds, deer and desert tortoises, Mount Charleston feels a million miles away from the city. 
Get your hiking stick, bottled water and Timberland boots ready. The hiking trails at Mount Charleston (52 miles total) will amaze you.
Branch Whitney, author of "Hiking Las Vegas" and "Hiking Southern Nevada," has traveled numerous trails in Las Vegas for the past two decades. "Many tourists believe Las Vegas is surrounded by desert," Whitney said. "They will change their minds when they see waterfalls, forests and wildflowers as they hike in Mount Charleston."
She said tourists should check out hiking trails in Mount Charleston to escape the heat of Vegas. "It's 25 to 40 degrees cooler," she said, "and the hiking trails are not crowded like other areas."
If you're a beginner hiker, the popular Mary Jane Falls trail has a seasonal waterfall and even a cave. This kid-friendly, two-mile trail is only an hour long. Fletcher Canyon is another easy hike, featuring walls up to 100 feet.
Whitney said Big Falls and Cathedral Rock are great half-day hikes. "Big Falls has a seasonal 100-foot waterfall and Cathedral Rock has impressive views," said Whitney.
Visitors can spot animals they don't often see at the 10-mile Bonanza Peak trail where wild horses still roam.
The 17-mile Charleston Peak trail features meadows with rows and rows of wildflowers, while Griffith Peak offers views of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead. There are more than 200 campsites, 160 picnic areas and RV spaces available in the Mount Charleston area.
"Dolomite campground has lots of amenities and has cooler temperatures than most campgrounds in the Charleston area," said Whitney.
Located in Kyle Canyon at more than 7,000 feet, the 24 log cabins at Mount Charleston Lodge provide comfort for those seeking a more modern refuge without giving up the outdoorsy feel entirely. Each cabin comes with a spacious outdoor deck and a fireplace. The restaurant at the lodge is a favorite spot offering breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Here you'll find everything from burgers to elk chops. And don't forget to try the Mt. Charleston Coffee as well as hot chocolate.
For a taste of luxury, the Hotel at Mount Charleston features fine restaurants, a full day spa, live music and special events like wine tasting and movies under the stars.
If you prefer to bring your own food, the popular Cathedral Rock Picnic Area at the end of Kyle Canyon Road features more than 80 individual and group picnic spots, as well as toilet facilities. 
Weddings, golf courses and even homes for sale are also available at Mount Charleston. If the casino buzz and sweltering heat are getting to you, then Mount Charleston is the answer.

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Motion rides

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Mob Museum

Mob Museum Description

The Mob Museum is going to expose you to history that your school textbooks didn't dare to cover.
Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas on Stewart Avenue and Third Street (right by Main Street Station), The Mob Museum is an interactive attraction showcasing the history of these famed gangsters. Here you'll get an inside look at organized crime's impact not only in Las Vegas, but its influence in America and the world.
From the same design team that created the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C., the 41,000-square-foot Mob Museum includes about 16,000 square feet of exhibition space on three floors. It features in-depth exhibits about the mob, myths about the mob, and so much more. 
Some find mobsters strangely fascinating, while others get excited about the good guys who brought them to their demise. If you're into the law enforcement side, you'll get a chance to read a lot about them, too.
One of the key exhibits is the actual courtroom used in the Kefauver hearings, the first mob-related event to be televised. The museum is located inside the former federal courthouse where the 1950-51 Kefauver Committee hearings were held. The Kefauver Committee investigation contributed to the national debate on organized crime that developed after World War II. 
"This was the first media sensation," said Kathleen Hickey Barrie, curator for the Mob Museum. "Viewers invited the mob into their living room. The Kefauver hearings became the thing, and Americans were absolutely mesmerized with [it]. They'd spend hours watching them.
"The big thing about the Kefauver hearings is not so much the laws that came out of it, but really the way the public opinion turned," she continued. "And you have this marvelous cast of characters around the country talking about their business enterprises."
The dimly-lit courtroom shows historical clips on a big screen and just outside, you can read more about the hearings.
More law enforcement exhibits include a wire-tapping station where you can listen in on actual conversations that happened. See testimonies of FBI agents on audio-visual panel (AVP) screens and even try your aim with an FBI firearms training simulator. There's also a police lineup booth where visitors can step into and be "suspects."
If you're all about seeing the bad guys and their dirty deeds, the Mob Museum exposes just that. Read a timeline of the mob, watch an AVP screen on becoming a "made" man, step into a room and learn how a "skim" works, and see a wall explaining where mobsters go once incarcerated. 
The museum's most valuable artifact is the brick wall from Chicago's Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929. The museum explains the murder of seven Moran gang members led by Al Capone's South Side Italian gang. The wall includes a 38-caliber Colt Detective special revolver, the only gun directly related to the shooting. This gun is believed to have belonged to Moran gang member, Frank Gusenberg.
"[This] was the most violent crime in America, even the world," said Barrie. 
Another object on display is the original barber chair where mobster Albert Anastasia (who was brutally shot and killed while getting a haircut and shave) once sat. Another artifact is an Abercrombie & Fitch leather valise that dates to the 1920s. This valise features a false bottom in which flasks of liquor were once hidden during Prohibition. 
The museum also carries items that belonged to Al Capone, Charlie Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Benjamin Siegel, Sam Giancana, Frank Rosenthal, Mickey Cohen and Tony Spilotro, among others. Other artifacts include guns, weapons, jewelry, personal belongings and hundreds of photographs.
If you're sensitive to gory details, then this museum may not be for you - the attraction showcases weapons and violent photos of deceased mob members found at crime scenes. 
For those into the glitz and glamour of the mob portrayed in Hollywood, the Mob Museum has you covered. Take a seat in one of the comfy booths in a posh and swanky theater room and see all your favorite clips from various gangster movies.
From the archives of the Las Vegas News Bureau, the Mob Musuem features photos of downtown as it appeared in the 1950s. Photos of hotels, local businesses and storefronts comprise this unique collection. The Mob Museum, seen from its days as a federal courthouse and U.S. Post Office, is also part of the exhibition.
The enormous gift shop includes all sorts of fun souvenirs, including tuxedo-printed baby onesies. 
Built in the 1920s, the restored courthouse is one of the city's last remaining historical buildings. The attraction cost approximately $42 million to construct.
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Mob Attraction Las Vegas

Mob Attraction Las Vegas Description

Why simply read or watch movies about mobsters when you can learn about them through an interactive storytelling experience, instead? 
Mob Attraction Las Vegas takes you into the world of the mob with character actors, hologram celebrity guides, unusual artifacts and so much more. The spacious, 27,000-square-foot area also makes it easy and comfortable to navigate through. During the beginning of your tour, you'll be given immigration papers that play a part of your ultimate "fate" in the end. After you get your picture taken and watch a brief video about Prohibition, the real fun begins. 
You'll be greeted with a hologram celebrity gangster guide who shares mob facts and leads you through the tour. Next, the attraction's live actors come into play. Will you help "Big Tony" in a deal? Or will you be a good guy and spill the beans to the authorities? You'll also be asked how a gambling cheater should be punished. These characters make the experience entertaining and give you a taste of the mafia lifestyle. Be careful -- if you giggle out of nervousness, they will call you out on it! You'll even step into a soft count room where you'll learn about "the skim," when mob bosses set aside money for themselves.
But the Las Vegas Mob Attraction is more than just playing along with actors. You’ll also get a sense of who these famed mobsters really were. Walk through the physical timeline from the start of the mob days to its downfall in Las Vegas. Get an up-close look at Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel's  1933 Packard 12 limousine and watch hologram versions of Siegel and fellow mobster (the "brain" behind the mob) Meyer Lansky discussing their vision in Vegas. 
This isn't the last you see of these two. In the artifacts section, see a replica of Siegel's living room, complete with home videos. We're always used to seeing Siegel in suits, but here you can see him in his Speedo trunks splashing around in the pool with his kids. Just a couple of steps away, read handwritten letters Siegel wrote to his daughter Millicent's mother. 
See a collection of Meyer Lansky's quirky and colorful bow ties, golf clubs and even his Medal of Freedom, which he received from President Harry Truman. 
There are several digital displays peppered throughout the attraction so you can gain an in-depth history of these men. Instead of looking at Lansky’s journal under a glass, there’s a touch screen version where you can read and “flip” to the next page by swiping your finger. 
One bizarre collection includes mobster Tony Spilotro's stolen pieces. See an actual police badge he ripped off an officer and even medals he stole from a veteran's house. While most kids receive toy cars, video games or dolls, these were the type of items he would give to his son. 
The staff at Mob Attraction developed relationships with family members to attain these artifacts. In addition, the digital photos frames are interesting to look at -- you see a glimpse of these mobsters as family men. Across the way, step into a room and brush up your mob trivia with interactive touch screens sharing history. 
The attraction features a bar where you can order your favorite drink. Right next door, relax in a theater room and watch a documentary of the making of "The Godfather." This room also includes other Hollywood memorabilia on display, including the "Casino" movie script signed by Nicholas Spileggi. 
And finally, your fate. After walking through the looming "Hall of Shame," step into the room and face your mob boss. Will you become part of the family? Will you be be murdered for snitching? Or will you be recruited into the Witness Protection Program? 
After your tour, your immigration photos will be available for view and purchase. Browse through the gift shop for apparel with amusing catch phrases like "I got whacked."
If you're looking for an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours on the Las Vegas Strip, Mob Attraction Las Vegas is "a hit."
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