By John Katsilometes
Abrupt visits by Metro officers to the cottages in the Arts District are hardly a new event. The entrepreneurial nature of those who for months have occupied the four-dwelling complex (who have preferred to do business in the middle of Colorado Avenue, whether on foot, bicycles, or through half-opened car windows) often attracted law enforcement.
But the latest activity has led to the closing of the cottages.
At least, that's what I read into "No Trespassing" messages sloppily spray-painted onto boards covering what once were windows. The cottages' demise unfolded swiftly. All seemed normal on Thursday, with the inhabitants mingling around the tattered yard that abuts the alley that runs parallel to Colorado. But over the weekend police were on the scene, shooing away the now-former tenants. One report I heard from someone who observed the whole, how you say, "shake down," was that one cluster of inhabitants-in-denial were holed up in one of the bungalows, armed like a small collection of Branch Davidians.
On Tuesday morning, waifish men in torn jeans and T-shirts were emptying Dumpsters that had just been filled with personal belongings -- mattresses, bookcases and even a family of white teddy bears (four of them, a large parent bear and three young siblings, were lined up for dispersal).
The bungalows were once a focal point of the Arts District. Actual emerging artists lived there for a time, until they, too were evicted for not paying rent (but they did some fantastic mural work). The bungalows are sure to be leveled for a high-rise, and left behind will be a colorful legacy of late-night business deals, Metro visits and homeless teddy bears.
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Experience of a nighttime: What happens when the air conditioning goes out?
Head to Binion's! Wednesday night I stayed in a 20th-story room overlooking the Fremont Street Experience, a rare view looking down at the lighted canopy. I'd never stayed at Binion's before and can report that it's not bad. The beds are a bit infirm and I think Grandma owned that TV, but the 56-year-old hotel is a pretty good spot to send someone who wants a taste of old Vegas.
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Vegas moment: Recently a guy rushed into the Walgreens on Las Vegas Boulevard North and Charleston Boulevard and yelled, "Someone tell me how to get the (expletive) out of Vegas." I need to get (the same expletive as noted in the previous sentence) out of Vegas! I need to get to Phoenix right (past-tense of that pesky expletive) right now!" A guy who had just bought a three-pack of condoms (he seemed to be an optimist, if you ask me) led him out the door and pointed, I think, toward the U.S. 95 ramp.
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On our menus: Ultimate Fighting Championship coach Marc Laimon loves the blue cheese burger served at Kilroy's on South Buffalo Drive so much they named it for him. The Marc Laimon Burger goes for $7.99, fries included.
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Release me: A missive from Luck Media & Marketing Inc. informeds that Rainbow Bar & Grill of Las Vegas was to host the official after-party for "The Gathering" music festival last Friday night at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. The release stated that Rainbow Bar & Grill is on Paradise Road across from the Hard Rock. Not so. The business shut down operation at that location about two months ago and is moving to a new spot to be announced, which the PR team might want to note.
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Auld lang syne, indeed: Last week as I prepared to depart the Las Vegas Sun for my new position as writer-at-large for Greenspun Media Group, I was faxed a going-away present by a friend who told me she was sending "the typo of the century -- last century." It's from a 1995 column in the Review-Journal that begins with "Las Vaginas rang in the New Year ..."
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Full PL8: Not sure if this means "bi-polar bear" or what, but a white Hyundai Tiberon has the vanity plate BYPLRBR.
Fabulous Las Vegas appears daily (well, almost) at this Web site. John Katsilometes can be reached at 990-7720, 812-9812 or at [email protected]