Because this class studies two very dynamic cities which are constantly changing, the class itself varies each year.  We come to Vegas in 2013 five years after a real estate bubble burst and financial meltdown.  Vegas has been particularly hard-hit, with over 10% of homes in default on their mortgage, a gigantic 8 Billion dollar casino-hotel-condo project in the center of the strip (City Center) which has neared bankruptcy on several occasions, dramatically affected its parent company MGM's stock and which currently has sold 100 of its 2500 condos.  Yet Vegas continues to be an icon for American hope and adventurous living, a dynamic center of American creativity and ingenuity. 

Tentative Schedule for the Course 2013 (events are tentative):

Thursday March 7th Arrive in Vegas by air

    Gustafson picks you up at airport.

Friday March 8th

           9:30 Wynn/Encore Tour

           11:45 Lunch at Ceasars

           1:00 Venetian Tour

            6:30  Supper with John Obrien (Creighton University and College of Law Alum ('69)

Saturday March 9th Las Vegas

             10am Golden Nugget Tour

             12 Casino Tour: Circus Circus, New York/New York, MGM, Luxor, Mandalay Bay

             Share exploring-experiences at buffet 6pm      

Sunday March 10th

            10am Tour Bellagio

            Free afternoon

Monday March 11th

Bank in Suburbs 9am Mayor of Boulder City   

            Redrock Casino11am

            Tour Southpoint Casino 1pm, Meet with Creighton Alum Michael Gaughan

Tuesday March 12th

        Checkout of Hotel by 9:00   

        9:30am Zappos Visit

        12noon Boulder City/Hoover Dam visit

        2pm Drive to Joshua Tree National Park to Camp (3.5 hrs)

        7pm Supper at Taco joint in 29 Palms

Wednesday March 13th

        Packup by 8:30 

        Breakfast in Desert Hot Springs with Creighton Alum Kevin McGuire, CEO Palm Desert Bank

        Arrive in Anaheim by 1:00 

       2:00 Disneyland exploration -- Stay in Anaheim

        Optional

Thursday March 14th   

        9:00  Port of Long Beach Visit

        11:00 Cathedral Visit

        12:00 Lunch Chinatown

        1:00 Meet with President Chamber of Commerce      

         2:30 Tour of Downtown area

         4:00 Fashion District

        Supper?  Return to Anaheim

Friday March 15th

        9am Homeboy Industries (east LA)

        Drive to Ventura

        Check-in to hotel 1:00

        1:30 pm meet with Rick Cole, City manager Ventura

        4:30 pm visit Blueberry Farm

        7pm  Cookout with firefighter (optional)

Saturday

        Leave 9am

        1030am visit Special Effects studio

        12:00 History of Hollywood Entertainment Industry

        2:00 Hollywood Studio

        Evening: Check out Walk of Fame

Sunday

        5:30am get in Vans, head for Vegas

        8:45 Pancakes in Vegas at Southpoint Casino (check-in)