Las Vegas History, Neon Boneyard

I just finished sending out exactly eleventy hundred cover letters and resumes and filling out eleventy hundred applications (why is it a separate process?) and watching some webinars.  Good stuff like "PMO is from Venus and Agile is from Mars" or vice versa.  For real.  But alas, I realized I'm about 15 PDUs behind track come next year's re-cert time so I get to partake in these fun learning adventures. Don't hate the playa.

But with all that business out of the way, I have time for a second post today...of a place I absolutely fell in love with here in Vegas. If I were a professional photographer, I'd rent this place out for a shoot.  If you are a professional photographer, you should.

This place is filled with the neon relics of the days of yore.  This is OG Vegas history just sitting out underneath the hot desert sun and you can take a guided tour through with just a minimal $15 donation to the museum.  You can also take photos if you sign a waiver stating that they are not for professional use.  Since I've never sold a photo in my life, that was pretty easy.  If you are a photographer  however, you can rent some time and they appear to set up some pretty fantastic settings and words for your shoot.  I've seen some photos of some chic urban wedding photos shot here. 

Have to say, I was pretty camera happy here.  I took more shots than I did at the Grand Canyon.  Look at the colors, the history and the grit (& the hot?!?! March sun)...

awww. sweet.  These are the letters from the Moulin Rouge sign rearranged to spell "in love."  All the rust keeps it from being sugary sweet.

And of course this "W" was the letter that started it all--in my book at least.  This was used in a CSI episode and everything I learned about Vegas, I learned from CSI.  They tell the truth and nothing but the truth when it comes to Vegas.

When I saw the above sign in a "casino owner in junkyard" episode of CSI, I immediately thought it would be the coolest place to visit.  As it turns out CSI did lead me a bit astray in this one episode (sad).  The signs were not just sitting out in a desert junkyard but rather, hang out in a locked lot on Las Vegas Blvd just a little north of The Strip.  About this far north...

I'd definitely recommend a visit if you have the time.  You just have to call in advance to book a spot as they are usually booked out for a week(or two) in advance.

You can have some fun with all of those letters.  Shakespeare might even have written an additional sonnet or two.

And of course, gratuitous Chipmunk shots.

I can't explain the pose.  Maybe I was preparing her for greek life and her first sorority head shot? Focus instead on those cheeks.  Smooshy.