Eldorado

            Leading off of my last post, Penny also took Allison to the Eldorado to enjoy one of the best dessert buffets in town.

            On Saturday, November 10, 2012, my bestie and I went downtown for a walk. Our first stop was the Eldorado. For some reason, the walk didn’t seem that long. This time, our journey took place during the day. The transformation that the area goes through from nighttime to daytime was apparent because downtown did not seem as threatening as it did just a few nights before. As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice that the scarce groups of people on the street were elderly couples and Fresno fans from out of town. When we finally got to the Eldorado, I took note of the people that filled the casino. The same was true. Besides local college students, the next youngest group I saw was middle-aged woman who were nearing the elderly stage in their life. That’s when it hit me. Las Vegas is filled with the a younger crowd living out the motto “you only live once” as well as the classic saying “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” It almost felt like I was seeing a desolate version of the Las Vegas casinos. These were the people who were consumed and ruined by the 24-7 life of high stake risks, gambling, and drinking problems. These people seemed to fit the characters of Vlauntin’s novel. They were run down from the harsh realities that each one of them had to face. And here they were, just vague images of what each of them once was. Their youth had passed them by and now they were living day to day having to deal with the consequences of days long ago.

            In regards to that, I could see that this could be exactly what Allison needed. Reno was not a place where temptation ran ramped anymore. It was a place where many have had to go through the same things but have left in hopes of change. For some that was somewhat true; some still consumed by the darkest temptations.

            Andrea and I finally found the buffet in the Eldorado. It wasn’t that busy. I’m sure Allison was used to this since Vegas has buffets everywhere one goes.

            Expanding on my earlier thought, Reno is very much like Vegas. It is the people and energy that makes it very different. So for Allison, seeing that she wasn’t fully there in her mind, it could feel like a parallel universe. All the same familiar things; just a very different way of life. 

Aweful-Aweful

            In the novel Northline byWilly Vlautin, the protagonist, Allison Johnson, finds herself in Reno trying to escape the tragedies in her life that had manifested in Las Vegas. Here, although she is haunted by her past, she attempts to make a fresh start. In doing so, one of the jobs that she takes on is one for a company that sells carpet cleaning vacuums. This job takes up the extra hours in her day that she dreaded due to the time it would gave her mind to wander. Penny, her boss and only co-worker at this job, eventually started to befriend her by taking her out. One of the places that she takes her to is the famous “Aweful-Aweful” that is located in the Little Nugget on Virginia Street. Here she enjoys this famous burger with her friend.

            On election night, Tuesday, November 6, 2012, my friends and I ventured downtown to do the same. It took about twenty minutes to walk from our dorm rooms all the way to our destination. It was already dark by the time we headed out on our journey. It wasn’t long before the creepers of the night showed themselves. We had not even gotten more than 100 meters off of campus before we saw these suspicious figures lurk around. It made me question how Allison could feel as if Reno was this mystical healing place. If anything, the dark figures of her past were ever more evident in a more threatening form. What I mean by this is that she was here by herself, alone with her thoughts. Seeing such things continually could haunt one. 

However, when we finally arrived at the Little Nugget, the sense of security went up a notch. Still, questionable characters surrounded us in the smoke filled casino. Once we made it to the back to the “Aweful-Aweful” we ordered two burgers in split them in thirds to share. The two chefs were very kind. At a glance, they seemed unapproachable. But making even the smallest of conversation transformed them into your friendly neighborhood chef. We sat down, and finally we were able to enjoy the most popular burger in town. It was just so perfect and delectable. For just a moment, I couldn’t imagine anything being better. I felt so at peace. 

Thinking of Allison, I could see how this was a significant change from being in Vegas. Being a native Las Vegan myself, I understand that sometime it feels like the city doesn’t need you as much as you need it. It really depends on how you integrate yourself and where you go. But in this experience at the “Aweful-Aweful” I started to comprehend the closeness of a small town city. There are traditions that everyone knows about and rituals that cannot be replicated elsewhere. And when you really look close, Reno is made up of many others who have escaped big city life for a new chance.

It's Getting Cold...

Sunday, October 21, 2012

When I went on a walk today, it was quite brisk outside. The wind was blowing and the coldness embedded itself deep within me. It always starts to make me a lot more sad once the season of sun leaves and the cold, dark winter days replace it. It is one of those feelings which I mainly despise because although the colors of fall take me back to a time of adventure and warmth, the deep coldness reminds me that the end of yet another year is around the corner. Therefore, I begin to contemplate all that I have accomplished and failed to accomplish during the year and years past and what I may or not accomplish as I get increasingly older each year. As I made my way heading Northeast to the Knowledge Center, I started thinking about how nice it would be to lay in my warm comfy clothes next to the fireplace at home surrounded by my family. My spirits were all of sudden lifted by the realization that soon I would be with my family. As cold as the weather and feelings within me get with the season, my family will always be that part of me that makes me feel like there is nothing that could possibly make me feel more whole or happy. Then on my right I saw a tree that I had taken pictures by only a few days earlier. It was not as beautiful because there was now an ugly bald spot and a patch of leaves that had turned brown and greenish. The other day it was a perfect fall red and the leaves were equally distributed. It made me sad again because it made me remember that time eventually distorts even the most beautiful occurrences in nature... Really, I was so cold that I don't even remember most of my other crazed thoughts.

Architecture in Las Vegas

Sunday, October 14, 2012

                To continue talking about the adventures from this weekend, we cruised the majority of the Las Vegas Strip. The neon lights glowed so brightly that it really wouldn’t be necessary for one to use his or her headlights. Growing up in Vegas it has been interesting to see the structural changes of the Strip. The most phenomenal, in my eyes, had been the addition of City Center, The Wynn, and the Bellagio. These three locations are multibillion dollar projects have beautified the stereotypical, neon skyline of Vegas. The architectural characteristics of platinum, gold, glass, and post modernism have brought back some of the class that Vegas had lost. This had added to the new idea that Las Vegas is world marketplace. Despite the high homeless rate in Las Vegas, the Strip symbolizes that of a high society. I feel that it is very ironic. The community struggles to keep its homeless population fed and sheltered since there are simply not enough jobs to go around, yet to outsiders, Vegas is a place where crazy adventures can happen and a popular destination for high class experiences. The architecture defines this.

                Compared to Reno, Las Vegas is certainly more upscale and that of a “perfect society.” But when it is compared to regular cities, Vegas can be described as a “show.” It is always about the tourism and gambling. The city that lives on 24/7 watch.

                Las Vegas has a plethora of architecture styles. Some architects tried to give credit to past architecture styles like the Venetian and Caesar’s Palace; however, other architects tried creating a new style like City Center and the Wynn. Thus, Las Vegas’s architecture also lends a hand at giving it a sense of worldly cultures. That to me is one of the best things about Las Vegas. It is so open to literally ever culture that is brought to it. The different themed buildings—Egyptian, East Coast, Venetian, modern, French, etc.—make world travelers feel emerged into an experience unlike any other.

                There is just so much that the architecture says about Las Vegas. And for me, it just says “home.”

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Sunday, October 14, 2012

                This weekend, I went on a crazy adventure! I was homebound. So to get to Vegas I decided to take the eight hour journey with Tazia, Jade, Cassidy, and Blake. However, I spent most of my weekend with my friends Terrayna and Andrea. It was a tradition filled!

                To start off the main part of the weekend the three of us went to Samboyd Stadium to watch the Nevada v UNLV football game. This was the 38^th game between the two colleges. The rivalry was so intense. I had never seen so much hatred. The UNLV Rebels and Nevada Wolf Pack fans were constantly throwing out choice words to one another and there was even multiple fights that broke out in the stands. For 38 years this extreme hate has divided the schools. It actually made me feel very conflicted since I was born and raised in Las Vegas. It didn’t stop at the school rivalry thing. It was really more of a Las Vegas v Reno rivalry. I could only imagine what others like me had gone through before. It was just sad because UNLV used to have an amazing football team and now the prestige is just gone. Not only that, but UNLV was trying to flaunt all its past accomplishments along with it current accomplishments to cover up the embarrassment of its current football team. So there I stood there imaging what it must have been like as a Rebel to feel proud of one’s school and all the potential that it held. It must have been full of hope and pride like they show in all those cheesy football movies. But now it was just a sad sight to see them cheer even though they knew that their team had a slim to none chance at beating Nevada after a seven year win streak.

                The other thing that got me thinking about history was walking on the Las Vegas Strip. Terrayna, Andrea, and I picked up my friends Travis and Hannah at the Monte Carlo and then valeted the cat at the Bellagio. From there we walked to Serendipity 3 at the Caesar’s Palace. It is just so interesting to me what a classy place Las Vegas used to be. There was a time when it was a requirement to wear suits in order to walk into a casino and be well dressed. The mob was running the town and all was well with its class and fortune. Then the Strip was small and the town was barely starting to grow. Now it is nearly 4 million residents strong and sloppy tourists fill the streets getting wasted and hoping for experiences such as that in the movie “The Hangover.” It always makes me feel as if Vegas has become a sad representation of what is once was.

Homelessness v Houselessness

Monday, October 1, 2012

For this walking journal, I have to admit that I was still not in good health to take the journey. I will use my previous experiences to talk about the homelessness/ houselessness that I have observed at the Riverwalk.

Last time I went to the Riverwalk, I was with my really, really good friend Andrea. Although I was stunned by the beauty of the area, I found myself walking very aware of my surroundings because of the “sketchy wanderers.” I felt like as the day grew shorter, the presence of the people who live out in that area became more apparent. I remember staying very far away from a man that was obviously spending the night there. He was wearing extremely shabby clothes and his face covered in grey patches of dirt. He had the stereotypical large duffle bags which probably contained all that he owned. In all honesty, I was frightened of his intentions. But I also felt guilty, because there I was walking around with my luxury items in each hand—smartphone and a camera. It made me wonder what his story was that led him to that point in his life.

After contemplating Jim Burklo’s distinction between homeless and houselessness, I can see it from another perspective. The man seemed very comfortable in his ways. It didn’t seem as if he was ashamed. It was his way of life. The other “sketchy wanderers” that I came across also appeared to be in routine. This activity was not unusual for these people. To them, it was their home because they knew it in a way which one may know their house or bedroom. Although it was a public area that was the vibe they gave.

It is a tricky concept because so many people abide by society rules. Society just classifies anyone without a physical house or shelter under his or her name as homeless. But technically one who has just moved out on his own and has not really established himself in place could be said to be homeless. On the same thought, one who is without a house who knows his surroundings well and is established in place may be “home” just with a house and can be called “houseless.” This is definitely an interesting concept. In this light, I can see that there is more “houselessness” than “homelessness” at the Riverwalk.