The Ninth Annual Pet-a-Palooza is being held at the Star Nursery Fields at Sam Boyd Stadium, this Saturday April 12th, from 10 am to 5 pm. Great fun for the whole family, including your canine members. Admission is $5, kids under three are free and part of the proceeds will be donated to the rescue groups in attendance. There will be contests, children's games, live entertainment, great food and over 50 vendors.

Looking for a special addition to your family? Over 40 local rescue groups will be on hand with great dogs available for adoption.

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The strip is being invaded, yet again by conventioneers----Pubcon has come to town. This is the second year Pubcon has been held in Las Vegas. Website owners, internet marketers and SEO experts from all over the world are arriving today for the conference.

The convention is being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center at 3150 Paradise Road. There are several posts on the internet already about surviving Pubcon in Vegas as well as many different games and contests going on. One of my personal favorites is the walk of shame----spotting attendees dressed in the same clothes as they had on yesterday to give presentations. Another is finding free wifi spots, so since I live here, I'm going to help everyone out. Here is a list of free wifi hot spots around the Las Vegas valley.

Good luck to everyone on their hunt!

Next week Saturday, December 1st, is the Great Las Vegas Santa Run to benefit Opportunity Village in downtown Las Vegas. The Santa Run is a 5k run and there is also a Kris Kringle Jingle (one mile walk). The registration fees before the event are $45 for participants age 13 and over and $25 for kids 12 and under. You may also register onsite on the day of the run for $75.

The goal is to break the world record for the largest Santa gathering while raising much needed funds for Opportunity Village. All participants will receive a 5 piece Santa suit to wear and keep after the event, plus a goodie bag valued at $100. There will be great prizes, live entertainment and displays for all ages.

The day begins at 8 am with a welcome from Mayer Oscar Goodman. Check-in, live entertainment and vendor displays are at the Neonopolis. The walk and the race start at 10 am on Las Vegas Boulevard. There is discounted parking ($5) available at the Fremont Street Experience Parking Garage if you show your Great Santa Run bib. So join honorary team Captains Siegfried & Roy and help raise money for a great charity. Register online at Opportunity Village.

When it comes to conventions, Las Vegas is near the top of the list. Ask anyone that lives someplace else, given a choice, where would you like to go for a convention.....VEGAS BABY!  This year, the National Association of REALTORS(R) convention and expo is in town. Last year, it was held in New Orleans, giving the local economy a nice shot in the arm.  Conventioneers were treated to a truly Las Vegas event, the demolition of the Frontier Hotel and Casino. The property was located center strip, near the Fashion show mall and Trump Tower.

The convention has brought thousands of Realtors(R) from all over the world to exchange ideas, discuss marketing strategies and of course, view the latest and greatest wares being marketed to the real estate industry. Given the amount of bloggers that are attending, I doubt what happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas this year!

Within the next 24 hours, New Frontier Hotel will be imploded. As usual for Las Vegas, change is constant. The Frontier is being demolished to clear the way for the Plaza Hotel complex, that will be like the one in New York City. The project will be in the multi-billion dollar range. The 34.5 acre property was purchased for over one billion dollars, making it some of the pricest Las Vegas real estate on the strip.

Construction is slated to start in 2008 with a completion date some time in 2012. Early reports state that the project will have a 3,500 room ultra luxury hotel, retail shops, convention space, dining and condominiums. No word yet on whether they will condo hotel units like the Cosmopolitan or regular residential high rise condos like ones at the Sky Las Vegas.

Yet another huge construction project to hit the strip.

This weekend at Nellis AFB  Aviation Nation returns this Saturday and Sunday to celebrate 60 years of aviation history. Its one of the largest aviation events in North America. "We expect anywhere from 100 to 200,000 people." said Staff Sgt. Randy Redman. Last year's show brought an estimated 150,000 fans.

The event is scheduled as an all day event. Food, drinks and of course, souvenirs will be avialable for sale. The event is sponsored by Las Vegas Events and parking will be available at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Commercial busses will provide all day shuttles to and from the event. One time fares are $3 for riders 10 years and up and a $1 for children 9 nine and under (infants are free).

The show is free, family friendly and offers an all day fun experience.  Attendees will be able to view military aircraft up close and the show will feature jets, bi-planes and helicopters. The event starts at 8 am brings visitors from all over the country to Las Vegas.