This is a self-indulgent post. I stayed here in a VW bus in ’85…
Monthly Archives: February 2012
PAWN STAR’S Bike-Expert, Danny Koker – A.K.A – The Count: COUNT’S VAMP’D Rock & Roll Club
Video is of the ZITO 77 band featuring Danny Koker at Count’s Vamp’d.
COUNT’S VAMP’D has been around a few years. This is a rock ‘n’ roll club that was co-owned by Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil. It is now owned by PAWN STAR’S bike-expert and way-cool, Danny Koker – AKA –The Count.
“Count Vamp’d is the old Feelgoods in Vegas that was opened by investors with Vince Neil of Motley Crue being a minority investor and marketer. Once Neil got divorced he had to sell his stake in the business and the name had to change. Vamp’d is a dracula-themed rock club, bar/restaurant. Yes, it’s all those things. Unfortunately, I have not caught a show there yet so I cannot speak to the concert setup or sound. I do know they attract national to local acts, George Lynch probably the biggest name that hits there regularly, and local Vegas Iron Maiden tribute band ‘Aces High’ is also a regular. The bar itself is very cool, has lots of guitars behind glass, cool decor, and rock-star type memorabilia.” more from Jim P
The Dracula inspired club is in suburban (west) Las Vegas on West Sahara (just East of Rainbow) at 6750 West Sahara Ave., Las Vegas NV. Formerly Vince Neil’s Dr. Feelgood’s Rock Bar & Grill, Count’s Vamp’d is a Rock & Roll Venue Bar & Restaurant.
Is Danny Koker an avatar of Dracula???
ChumLee meets Bob Zimmerman A.K.A. Bob Dylan:
Count’s Vamp’d Official Website. You might want to listen to the background sound (song) on this website. I’m guessing it’s the ZITO 77 band. Regardless of who the band is they’re good. A very interesting (heavily effected) snare drum starts out running then continues with the other tasty drums and (cow)bell, then electric-guitars kick in: the bass-notes electric, playing low – maybe open strings – repeating a riff (yeah I know) with the second guitar, a high lead, weaving in and out. It’s basically a standard three-chord rock progression. Very authentic. Don’t quit until you hear the drum solo. Then stick around for the end. From the first time I heard the song I was hooked. This is just my opinion, William Carbone.
WUNDERLAND IN 5 MINUTES
Unbelievable Miniature Train Set (world) built by two brothers.
Many visitors show up early in the morning and leave in the very last minute, only to come back next morning. Miniatur Wunderland cannot be explored in a couple of minutes. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to show you Wunderland in a 5 minute movie, but we can at least give you some impressions:
Suggested by Aileen S
Action Alert: Arizona’s Burros Need Your Help
Comments Needed for Cibola-Trigo Environmental Assessment
Dear Wild Horse & Burro Supporters;
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages wild burro herds at disastrously low numbers throughout the West. One of the few viable burro herds lives in the immense Cibola-Trigo Herd Management Area (HMA) in southwestern Arizona along the Colorado River—a 600,000 acre area.
Yet, even here, burros are in danger. The inept Sun J roundup crew is set to swoop into their peaceful desert home in early April, the height of the foaling time for burros.* Pregnant jennies are in danger of spontaneous abortion and small foals can be permanently damaged or killed.
350 burros will lose their freedom—roughly half the herd.
Even worse, the BLM plan calls for capturing and gelding 50 males and releasing them back to the range. Returning geldings into a reproducing wild herd would set a deadly precedent. There are no studies that measure the potential damage to a society of wild burros (or horses). From a behavioral standpoint, geldings have no role in either a wild horse or wild burro herd.
BLM rejects the use of dartable infertility drugs saying they have not been tested on wild burros, yet they opt for surgically sterilizing jack burros. In fact, PZP was successfully tested on the U.S. Virgin Islands wild burro herd in 1996.
BLM states in their EA “at no time should cryptorchid jacks be released back into an HMA.” The EA continues saying that they will be “shipped to a BLM facility for appropriate surgery or euthanasia (emphasis added) if it is determined they cannot be fully castrated.” If the jack is a full cryptrorchid (two undescended testicles), it is likely sterile, yet will display all the natural behaviors of an intact male. By allowing these jacks to remain on the range, BLM could avail themselves of a natural form of population control.
To justify removing half the burro herd, BLM cites a high adoption demand for burros. (If this reasoning holds true, then BLM should immediately cease the removal of any more wild horses from their homes on the range!)
Below are suggested points to make in your letters. Please use your own polite words.
Comments must be submitted by Tuesday, February 28th, no later than the close of business at 4:30 PM Mountain Time. If you feel like a little light bedtime reading, you can read the EA here.
Comments can be submitted via mail to:
John MacDonald, Field Manager
BLM Yuma Field Office
2555 E. Gila Ridge Rd
Yuma, AZ 85365
Or via email at: BLM_AZ_YM_WHB@blm.gov – with “Cibola-Trigo EA Comments” in the subject line.
Dear Sir;
Select the No Action Alternative
Conduct an accurate, current census using the most up-to-date technology
Consider other methods of population control (PZP)
Return cryptorchid jacks to the range as natural population control
Do not kill healthy burros for any reason
Consider capture methods other than a helicopter roundup (bait and water trapping)
Do not run small foals and pregnant jennies with a helicopter
Do not geld the jacks and do not release gelded jacks into the herd area
Do not threaten the social dynamics of a wild burro society by returning geldings to the range
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement before taking the drastic sterilization actions outlined in this EA
Do not skew the sex ratio
Do not remove any elder animals
Do not use our tax dollars to conduct this costly roundup
Sincerely,
[Your name]
*Burros are polyestrous and foal throughout the year in the American southwest, but the documented height of the foaling period is March and April according to international expert and CITES representative for asses, Patricia Moehlman.
Full Moon February 7, 2012
There will be yet another Full Moon, again in the sky, on February 7, 2012 at 1:56 P.M. Las Vegas time.
From the Old Farmer’s Almanac
Full Moon Names
February is the month of the Full Snow Moon.
Here are highlights of the February 2012 Moon! The Almanac’s monthly Moon guide keeps you informed about full Moon names, Moon phase dates, and Best Days by the Moon.
Full Moon Names
February’s full Moon is traditionally called the Full Snow Moon because usually the heaviest snows fall in February.
Hunting becomes very difficult, and so some Native American tribes called this the Hunger Moon.
Other Native American tribes called this Moon the “Shoulder to Shoulder Around the Fire Moon” (Wishram Native Americans), the “No Snow in the Trails Moon” (Zuni Native Americans), and the “Bone Moon” (Cherokee Native Americans). The Bone Moon meant that there was so little food that people gnawed on bones and ate bone marrow soup.
Excellent video on the Full Moon from Almanac.Com
From Western Washington University
American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here are titles most closely associated with calendar months. Here is information for two tribes.
OUT WEST
ZUNI – Southwest, New Mexico
In the ZUNI language the word for February’s moon is “onon u’la’ukwamme” or “no snow in trails.”
BACK EAST
MOHAWK – Eastern Woodlands
Horn-Miller’s Official Website
In the MOHAWK language the word for February’s moon is “enniska” or “lateness.”
Official Website for The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Official Website for Western Washington University
Visit the main pages for LasVegasBuffetClub.Com
Practice makes perfect: Pasquini’s Cherry Creek in Denver
Originally published January 29, 2012
Article by William Carbone
LasVegasBuffetClub.Com
Pasquini’s Pizzeria
Cherry Creek
240 Milwaukee Street
Denver, CO
(303)-355-1177
Pasquini’s started out around the mid 80s as a small pizzeria on South Broadway in Denver, Colorado offering pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salads. Previously a pizza parlor called The Pizza Queen was doing business at the location. When Tony Pasquini’s family started doing business under the family name, there were a few tables in front of the working, exposed kitchen. In the early 90s they expanded and added an upstairs dining room and bar, THE BLUE LUNA ROOM. Instantly hip and Denver-cool, The Blue Luna Room was replete with good-crazy colors, inlaid tables, mis-matching chairs, marginal to fine art-for-sale and, at one time, a small venue for music. The menu was expanded by then, offering creative pizzettas, most-excellent salads and more. The original pizza and pasta remained on the menu. Several other locations were opened between then and now. Visit Pasquini’s website for more information.
Even before a customer has fully settled into one of the chairs or booth-seats, a plate of buttered (pizza dough) bread-sticks is offered with a side of marinara, gratis. This could be a meal in itself with a sprinkling of grated cheese, pepper flakes and the marinara – instant gratification when one is hungry. Pasquini’s has always been and continues to be an excellent pizza and pasta joint.
Practice makes perfect certainly applies to Pasquini’s new location in Cherry Creek. Note the creative, hanging window- space-dividers (top right – below) that help separate the dining area from the bar. The floating effect is achieved with a few eye-let bolts and flat-chain. The red, leather/vinyl booths are cozy and comfortable. Try to score the huge horse-shoe shaped booth (third booth from right) in the main dining area. No reservations…
The restaurant, nicely appointed, has the same-type, creative decorating gems that helped rock the Blue Luna Room, such as the aforementioned room-dividers, hand built back-bar, table-top inlaid (under glass) with beer-bottle caps, mismatching plate-ware and good-crazy colors. There is also a wood-burning pizza oven resembling in-style a Pasquini’s Blue Luna Room dining table inlaid with mosaic tiles.
The menu has also been cranked up a notch or three with appetizers such as: Eggplant Rotoli ($5.95) Breaded eggplant wrapped around fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil, baked and drizzled with lemon juice, served with a side of marinara. Yea, it’s as tasty as it sounds! This is food-channel stuff. Also from the App menu: Meatball Sliders ($5.95) Four mini meatball subs topped with marinara, mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto Stuffed Portobello ($5.95) With red onion, garlic, breadcrumbs and Parmigiano Reggiano.
At Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 4pm-6pm and 9pm-11pm; Saturday-Sunday 11am-6pm and 9pm-11pm the Sliders and the Eggplant Rotoli can be had for four bucks each. Also Napolitana Pizzas for ten bucks as well as beer, wine and well specials ($2 and $3.) One can get very happy here.
The 100% Organic Flour, Neapolitan Pizzas (thicker than New York style) are well built with copious amounts of cheese: 10″ Pizzeta ($9.95,) 12″ Small ($13.95,) 14″ Medium ($16.95,) 16″ Large ($19.95) and 18″ Extra Large ($22.95) are also available with whole wheat crust for another dollar. Gluten-free pizza is available. The usual suspects of the topping variety are available. Napolitana Style Pizzas: One size crafted from Organic Flour with a classic thin artisan style crust, baked in the 800 degree wood burning oven “Available in house or while you wait only” ($12.95.)
Excellent in quality and size, plain to fancy salads are available – Small or Large $4.95 to $8.95. Sandwiches from the classics (5″ $6.95 – $8″ $8.95) to Gourmet Subs (5″ $6.95 – 8″ $10.95) or Focaccia Sandwiches ($9.95) are available.
Pasta & Specialties: From traditional Italian entrees, such as Homemade Lasagna ($13.95,) Spaghetti or Penne ($9.95,) Chicken or Eggplant Parmesan ($13.95,) to entrees with California Cuisine tags, Walnut Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli ($13.95) there’s something for (almost) every taste. All pasta dinners include garlic bread and organic mixed green salad. Whole wheat spaghetti or penne available for $1.00 extra. Gluten-free available. A long-standing specialty of Pasquini’s, Calzones are available for about ten dollars, including whole wheat Calzones for another buck. Visit Pasquinis website for the complete menus.
Pasquini’s is acquiring a reputation for their deserts, including their Tiramisu ($7.50,) Mud Pie Pyramid – Mocha and Vanilla Bean ice cream covered in Oreo cookie crumbs ($6.95) and more…
With a lively bar-scene, I predict, Pasquini’s is going to be the happening place in nouveau, hoity-toity Cherry Creek come this spring, along with the literal opening of the dining area: garage-type doors open to expose a good portion of the south-side of the restaurant to Denver’s gorgeous spring and summer weather. Huh! Can’t miss with these prices in pricey Cherry Creek.
Nice lighting…
“The place exudes character, and the food stands up to the atmosphere” according to Denver Post. Fresh pizza dough for kids to play with and the freedom to create their own pizza makes Pasquini’s the “Best Family Friendly Restaurant” according to Rocky Mountain News. Pasquini’s was named 5280 Magazine’s Top of the Town Best Pizza and Best of Westword’s Best Pizza, Best Chocolate Cake, Best Organic Salad, Best Garlic Bread and Best Subs.
Pasquini’s is a TrueItalianTable recommended, authentic Italian restaurant.
Visit Pasquini’s Official Website for complete menus, photos, locations, history and more…
Visit LasVegasBuffetClub’s main pages…
Cartels targeting police officers in Juarez, authorities say; 8 officers dead
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Eight police officers in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, have been killed in recent weeks
Authorities say cartels are responsible for killings
Banners threaten that an officer will be killed each day unless the police chief resigns
The chief — a former military officer — says he’s not stepping down
By Rafael Romo, Senior Latin American Affairs Editor
updated 6:55 PM EST, Thu February 2, 2012
(CNN) — Julian Juarez Baena, a police officer in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, had just finished his shift. It was just after 9 p.m. last Saturday, and he was driving home.
But the 35-year-old would never reach his destination. At an intersection near his home, he was ambushed and shot to death.
Investigators found 34 bullet casings at the scene. Juarez was found facing down with multiple bullet wounds in his head, chest and left side of his body.
His death made headlines in the Mexican city across the border from El Paso, Texas. Not only was the victim a police officer, but he was also the eighth member of the force to be murdered in two weeks.
In the weeks prior to Juarez’s death, banners had appeared in Ciudad Juarez threatening to kill one officer per day unless Police Chief Julian Leyzaola resigned. Leyzaola, some of the banners claimed, was only targeting members of one cartel while its rivals roamed free read more from CNN.Com…