Posted by Rebecca on Nov 10, 2009 in
Reviews,
web design I adore downtown Las Vegas. Drinks are cheaper, the $1.99 shrimp cocktail still exists, unique entertainment can always be found and its businesses embrace a sense of community. Much effort and press have been given to promote the artsy and cultural Fremont East district. Mayor Oscar Goodman and his public relations consultants strive to make downtown appeal to tourists and locals alike by holding many ceremonies and events on location. Just as I’m hooked on good deals and a taste of culture, so are small business owners looking to start up by way of tax incentives. Fremont Street glitters with promise and effort for revival. Why then, don’t the Web sites belonging to downtown’s casinos and hotels reflect such effort? They all possess the same general errors.
Take the Four Queens Resort and Casino for example. The property is located smack-dab in the middle of tourist destination Fremont Street. Great location, right? There’s much opportunity to take in guests and gamblers from passerby. And there’s always money to be made from those brave or frugal enough to stay downtown despite of its bad reputation. However, there is unlimited potential and opportunity to reach people through their Web page. I mean, doesn’t Four Queens want to snag people before they tour Fremont Street? Even with the current economy, a Las Vegas hotel with a small capacity should still be booked to capacity on New Year’s Eve. I called the reservation desk. It’s not. And with the current Web site, I’m not too surprised.
When first entering the Four Queens site, a pop-up appears. A tourist searching for a place to stay for an upcoming vacation is probably instantly turned off, especially if he or she has no interest in the game Texas Hold ‘Em. ONE CLICK.
After discarding the pop-up, twenty moving images come at the potential customer at once. Seriously, I counted them. Search tabs, page dividers, text, logos, images of the hotel’s amenities all move. Very showy and expensive-looking. Very annoying. Even the links move and seem to emit strange sound when the arrow runs over them. Another pop-up appears and states, ‘download this video.’ Which video? More importantly, why? Discard that. TWO CLICKS.
A banner states that Halloween festivities begin October 2nd. Interestingly, it’s rounding the second week of November. Ignoring that, a customer simply has to wade their way through the moving images and find the ‘hotel’ tab on the left, which probably leads to room reservations. Or, once the eyes become used the video, they will be able to find an online reservations icon in the upper left corner.
THREE CLICKS. But wait. The page needs time to load. About eight extra seconds on high-speed internet. The site is cordial enough to communicate that it’s loading, though. Unfortunately, that is about all an average potential customer is going to want to handle. Forget about that shrimp cocktail. The tourist is going somewhere else, and probably not downtown. FOUR CLICKS and lost forever.
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Tags: casinos, Fremont Street, las vegas, web design, web minimalism
Posted by Rebecca on Nov 4, 2009 in
Mid-Century,
Reviews,
Social Networking When writing about Web design, I’ve often given props to portfolio designers and Wordpress theme creators. Some designers have inspired me to put my personality out there and others have made me appreciate their own unique online presence. This time, I feel I should showcase and give thanks to another designer for simply creating a wonderful and easy-to-navigate site which I use practically every day. Craig Newmark, thank you for sharing (free of charge) with communities a phenomenon called Craigslist.org. Because the site offers up so many services to barter, a savvy college-aged Craigslister can live comfortably even if they don’t have the means to do so. Moreover Mr. Newmark, I just want to extend thanks for some specifics regarding your site, which I understand hasn’t changed much since the 1990s.
Photo of Craig Newmark borrowed from businessweek.com
By not subscribing to some modes of Webification, you have stuck to your guns. I never have to download another version of Flash Player, or wait extra precious seconds to upload pages. You have made it simple enough for people my grandparents’ age to upload photographs of their vintage wares for sale. Please continue to stick to the basics of text, photographs and hyperlinks.
You have built communities. People with common interests and zip codes have an easy way to participate in online forums and plan events. People who meet up to buy or sell items occasionally build relationships (I’ve built many friendships based on Las Vegas nostalgia).
You have made your site extremely user-friendly. Using breadcrumb navigation which everyone is familiar with, there isn’t any process-learning. Web minimalist and author Steve Krug would probably thank you, Mr. Newmark, for not making him think! Craigslist.org takes a common sense approach to Web usability in that it follows conventions while shifting any marketing extras to the side. To cater to conventions, minimalism and simplicity, Craigslist.org must suffer a little bit. Some would say your site is ugly and not aesthetically pleasing. Personally, I’m one of those people who believe it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Yeah, you might say I’m crushing on you right now.
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Tags: craigslist, Mid-Century, minimalism, online communities, web design
Posted by Rebecca on Oct 27, 2009 in
Reviews Even though the latest film version of The Thomas Crown Affair was released 10 years ago, people still have something to say about it. Just today, I was reading some Facebook profiles belonging to some of my friends and family members, and I was surprised at how many listed The Thomas Crown Affair among their favorite flicks. I’m guessing they’re not referring to the original 1968 Steve McQueen version, (my personal favorite) but the racier, updated version.
So, what is it about the more recent film which cultivates adoration from those aged 20 through 60? One blogger may put it best: In a recent review, Alex’s Random Thoughts said of the film, “This chess game of love and extravagance is sure to sweep all movie-lovers off their feet with its unmistakable charm and scorching hot plot line.” The blogger also attributes its continued success to its award-winning soundtrack.
Call me crazy, but I feel the film’s success might have something to do with the leading man, played by Pierce Brosnan. He’s tall, dark and handsome, has a British accent, and has an irresistable James Bond quality (yeah, he played that character as well in a few films). To be sure, Brosnan’s character, Thomas Crown, appeals to a vast audience. He’s suave, good-looking, funny, and smart. The gals like him because he’s dreamy. The guys like him because he’s bad-ass. The kids like him because, well, their parents let them watch the film which is more PG than any other in its genre. The film’s tasty formula includes mystery, a love story, a killer soundtrack, and a little film noir. To be sure, Brosnan was the “it” man for a while, and was the perfect choice for the film.
And ten years later, he has again been casted as Thomas Crown, in The Thomas Crown Affair 2 due to hit theaters 2012. Even though Brosnan has been out of the limelight for some time, he’s been gaining popularity through the independent circuit. According to screenrant.com, Brosnan is currently getting rave reviews at festivals for his turn in the drama The Greatest co-starring Susan Sarandon.
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Tags: blog, facebook, film, pierce brosnan, soundtrack, thomas crown affair
Posted by Rebecca on Oct 27, 2009 in
Food,
Mid-Century,
Reviews As you may know, I’m a big fan of anything mid-century. This goes for architecture, furniture, film, books and even foodstuffs. Because I live in a neighborhood which prides itself on such representation, it is no surprise that 50’s Diner Omelet House has found success while planted in its center. Even though situated in the corner of a strip mall, from the outside the breakfast joint still screams legitimacy, for its posted hours are 7:30 am – 3:00 pm and its parking lot is packed. In addition, the restaurant’s wall of windows are covered by blinds. Only one thing comes to mind: ”Must find the treasures inside!”
Upon entering, I noted the elements of the usual diner spread; menus, sugar canisters, and single-serving jellies on tables, seating for 50 people not including the bonus room, a sign directing me to seat myself, a blackboard listing of-the-day specials and a black and white checkered floor. However, it was super clean, the walls were painted pink, valuable vintage records lined shelves, oldies music filled the air, and eclectic period memorabilia adorned the walls. The most interesting part of the collection was perhaps a 60-year-old candy machine brimming with weekly magazines.
Even though I entered the diner right before closing time at around 2:30 pm, I was still greeted kindly by the host, server and cook. I sat in a booth made for six and started analyzing the menu. It offered up the usual diner fare, like sandwiches, burgers, chili and breakfast items. But there was an entire page dedicated to 39 specialty three-egg and six-egg omelets, served with house-recipe-spuds and choice of bread. Because ‘omelet’ is included in the diner’s name, I decided to go for it, and picked a meat lover’s omelet ($6.50) listed as one of the blackboard specials, along with the risky cream of cilantro ($2.00) listed as the soup d’jour. I also ordered a ‘Doo-Wop’ soft drink ($1.70), which consisted of picking a flavored syrup to compliment a soda. I decided on a vanilla Coke.
The soda arrived in less than a minute accompanied by a small cup of extra syrup which wasn’t needed but appreciated. The cream of cilantro soup arrived a minute later and I was surprised at how layered the flavors were. It was light and broth-y, yet there was a hint of onion and cream. The fresh pieces of cilantro melted in my mouth. I finished my last spoonful just as my meat-lover’s omelet arrived with fresh spuds and homemade pumpkin nut bread. The omelet was massive, for it was made with six eggs and filled with applewood smoked bacon, crumbled sausage and cheddar cheese. The spuds looked like and had the consistency of kettle-cooked potato chips, which complimented the soft and cheesy omelet. I enjoyed the pumpkin nut bread the most, and the kind server even shoved an extra slice into my take-home box which I didn’t discover until the next day.
If you’re a fan of diners, omelets or both, 50’s diner Omelet House is a must-visit. I’m hoping to become a regular, for it is centrally located in my neighborhood. Moreover, I want to make the owner an offer on some of that vintage vinyl.
50’s Diner Omelet House is located at 3050 E Desert Inn Rd. #140 Las Vegas NV 89121. It is open seven days a week 7:30 am - 3:00 pm. Directions
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Tags: Food, las vegas, Mid-Century, restaurants, Reviews
