Joy's Travel Adventures: @threesquareLV @Zappos @DowntownProjLV @GirlsInTechLV @TheMobMuseum @Barrett_Jackson & more! #VegasTech #VegasFun
October 11, 2013
By Joy A. Kennelly
Long time no chat, howzit going out there?:) Since arriving in Vegas it's been a whirlwind of activity and writing opportunities that always preclude my writing here.
Now that I've had bronchitis for almost two weeks and feel like I'm finally coming back from the dead, I feel inspired to share all the fun things that have been happening just in case you're curious.:)
I dove head first into getting involved with the tech scene and enjoyed many Downtown Podcasts with my Girls in Tech friends until I started having other events and illness affect my ability to participate. The Downtown Podcast is a fun gathering of tech entreprenuers who live in Vegas and is produced by the founders of Ticketcake.com.
Here's a pic and a link to more if you're curious: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152297110938849.1073741830.348417258848&type=1
Girls in Tech is a "global non-profit organization which aims to support the collaboration, promotion, growth and success of women in the local technology sector.
It does this by offering educational workshops and lectures, panel discussions, networking functions, social engagements, and recruitment events."
I was fortunate to arrive just in time to participate in GIT's Computer Education classes for the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada and really enjoyed helping young girls develop a passion for technology.
Plus, made some new fun girlfriends in the process! You can see Christina Aldan sharing our events during a recent Downtown Podcast. She runs Lucky Girl Designs and is a great person. Connect with her on Linkedin here! http://www.linkedin.com/pub/christina-aldan/8/2/b13
Here's a pic from that experience with a link to more too: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152297068708849.1073741828.348417258848&type=1
There's a really supportive community for female entreprenuers out here in Vegas and I was able to participate in a recent Women of Influence seminar featuring: Jean Birch, Owner/CEO Birch Company and Former CEO of IHOP Restaurants and Romano's Macaroni Grill; Rose McKinney-James, Managing Principal of Energy Works LLC; Fafie Moore, Owner of Realty Executives of Nevada; Renee West, President/COO Luxor and Excalibur and Dr. Kate Zhong, Senior Director of Clinical Research and Development at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.
Impressive, eh? Tell me about it! Here's a pic from the event with a link to more if you're curious too: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152297131378849.1073741831.348417258848&type=1
I crashed Zappos Headquarter move to Downtown Vegas which was really cool too!
Also, the Downtown Project tour given by the Pixie of Positivity, HeidyNoelle Stamper, (isn't she great!:) which gives you the overview of the vision for Downtown was interesting too.
I especially enjoyed the last speaker I heard during the Downtown Speaker series too. You can view those pictorial essays here: https://www.facebook.com/JoyKennelly?ref=hl - just scroll down a bit.
I also loved participating in the DISH Las Vegas Three Square Food Bank Charity Fundraiser held at the "Palms Casino Resort (at The Palms Pool & Bungalows) with tastes from Las Vegas’ most acclaimed restaurants, including: N9NE Steakhouse, NOVE Italiano, TAO Asian Bistro, LAVO Italian Restaurant & Nightclub, rm Seafood, Border Grill and Bar+Bistro @ The Arts Factory." (As written in their press announcement.)
Talk about a feast! It was really fun and for a great cause too. Here's a little facts on Three Square Food Bank and how they help the community. They are partnered with over 650 community program partners including non-profit and faith-based organizations, schools and feeding sites; serve over 100,000 people monthly; and have provided the equivalent of roughly 18 million meals in 2011 alone!
What a wonderful event and charity! Click here for more pix: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.444327465687980.1073741830.412260405561353&type=1&l=59d3b5e860
In addition, I've enjoyed the Cowboy BBQ,
hosted by my former employer, O Entertainment, who recently relocated here to Vegas as well!
And for a change of pace, crashed The Las Vegas Biker Fest with another new Vegas BFF, Jamie, with very fun results. We never know what will happen when we hang out which always makes it fun.
Just another Adventure!:) See what I mean?:)
Earlie that day we visited The Mob Museum in Downtown Vegas which is really interesting, but very graphic too. Here's me with the cut-out of the former Mayor of Vegas, Oscar Goodman, recognize him?:)
His memoir was very good too by the way, although I think he kinda white-washed the criminals he represented in my humble opinion. No offense mobsters who might be reading this, but when you kill and rob people, you're not a family man, no matter how many times you say it out loud or want to believe it.
I worked the amazing Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction which I have always wanted to attend ever since an attorney I was working for years ago helped Micheal Jackson sell his Maybach there.
Here's a teaser... It was so cool to see Siegfried and Roy on the final day make an appearance. I remember that fateful day 10 years ago when the tiger attacked Roy and was thrilled to see Vegas royalty live at the auction fully recovered and supporting the community.
View more pictures from all my adventures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joystraveladventures/
And for my latest tech adventures with the Vegas Tech scene, check out my Social Media Strategist Facebook fan page here: https://www.facebook.com/JoyKennelly?ref=hl
I still have to share about other adventures including the cool luxury travel show, Rock of Ages, crashing a local Harley Davidson BBQ, exploring the Strip, and much, much more...
I will as soon as I catch up on everything else I need to do! Oh, and if you want to read my latest travel article on traveling to and through Big Sur for C-Suite Magazine, you can do so here: http://pages.cdn.pagesuite.com/4/6/46c0e80c-2401-4055-b495-bb4d11633343/page.pdf
I also wrote an article on social media for a classy, cultured magazine out here in Vegas called BLVDS Las Vegas which I will be able to share soon. I was pleased to include my friend, Social Media Guru, Peter Shankman, and his esteemed colleague, Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, of Hartstein Psychological Services in New York City whom you may recognize as a contributing psychologist for CBS’ The Early Show.
So, needless to say, I've been berry, berry busy.:) Oh, and in addition to all of this, have managed to create my budget and work on more details for Joy's Travel Adventures, despite being too sick to participate in a cool pitching event in front of a bunch of potential investors. Sad face, but there will be other opportunities.
I'm continuing to plan my next travel video now that I'm here in Vegas and reaching out to all the cool casinos for freelance and permanent work because you always create stronger relationships when you work with people.
Funding may take awhile and I'm hustling!
Wish me luck!:)
I'm also still trying to coordinate activities both here and in Los Angeles for my StartupMind group I run with my friend, KP http://www.meetup.com/StartupMind/members/3248131/.
Become a member to stay in touch with what's happening in Silicon Beach, Silicon Valley and Vegas Tech scenes here: http://www.meetup.com/StartupMind/
Now that I'm feeling better I plan to update it more frequently, along with all my other event organizers too.
Okay, I think that's all for now.
Thanks for reading and staying in touch. Love to hear your thoughts.
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