The monument, located on Grand Central Parkway and Symphony Park Ave., welcomes visitors to Symphony Park – a 61-acre urban neighborhood. The ‘neighbors’ include the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, as well as the soon-to-open The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the under-construction DISCOVERY Children’s Museum.

The monument’s installation is occurring at the start of what’s been dubbed “The Year of Downtown,” with the arrival of several new buildings and attractions in 2012 to the region.

There are few finishing touches left on the monument and we’ll keep you updated on the progress. In the meantime, watch the video to see this structure lifted by crane into its new home!

*Scheduled February programming includes:

• Butter vs. Margarine: includes a butter making opportunity on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5 at 1:15 p.m.
• Lemons vs. Oranges: a citrus throw-down that explores unique capabilities of each fruit on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1:15 p.m.
• Pears vs. Apples: Can you fool your nose to think one tastes like the other?  Saturday, Feb. 18 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1:15 p.m.
• Potatoes vs. Pop Rocks:  Both explode.  Saturday, Feb. 25 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1:15 p.m.

*All activities are subject to change and will be done while supplies last.

The Museum offers its popular Critter Connections each Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Guests can experience the feeding and care of the many living creatures, including sharks, snakes and stingrays, who reside at the Museum.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

The Museum is located at 900 N. Las Vegas Blvd. in downtown Las Vegas and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for students, seniors and military and $5 for children ages 3-11.  Children age 2 and under, museum members and Association of Science and Technology Centers Passport Program members are free. For additional information or to support the museum, visit www.lvnhm.org or call 702-384-3466.

CONTACT:             
Marilyn Gillespie – 702-384-3466
Las Vegas Natural History Museum

WHAT:
The Mob Museum, the National Museum or Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, announces its Media Preview Day and grand opening events.

WHERE:   
All events take place at The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Avenue, Las Vegas, NV  89101 (Parking information will be provided with credentials)

EVENT #1:
MEDIA PREVIEW DAY:  MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012
Noon to 3 p.m.
Arrival and Registration:  11:45 a.m. at adjoining Tent Pavilion on Museum grounds
Tours conducted by:
Dr. Dennis Barrie, Creative Director, The Mob Museum
Kathy Barrie, Curator, The Mob Museum
Jonathan Ullman, Executive Director, The Mob Museum
Featuring Hollywood author, screenwriter and producer, Nicholas Pileggi

This by-invitation only media event is the only opportunity media will have to film and videotape The Museum without restriction.  Once The Museum opens, photos and video are tightly controlled and restricted, a customary practice for accredited museums throughout the world.

Opportunity for interviews with the following individuals:

• Ellen Knowlton, President of The Mob Museum Board of Directors and former Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Las Vegas
• Nicholas Pileggi, author, screenwriter and producer best known for his book and screenplay Casino, and his book, Wiseguy, which was adapted for the movie, “Goodfellas”
• Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman, city of Las Vegas
• Ricki Y. Barlow, city councilman, Las Vegas
• Oscar B. Goodman, visionary and board member
• Dr. Dennis Barrie, creative director, The Mob Museum
• Jonathan Ullman, executive director, The Mob Museum
• Kathleen Hickey Barrie, curator, The Mob Museum
• Nancy Deaner, director, Las Vegas Office of Cultural Services
• Robert Chattel, Preservation Architect
• Dr. Michael Green, College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas history expert
• Paul E. Westlake, Jr., FAIA, principal and lead designer, Westlake Reed Leskosky, Architecture and Integrated Design Services
• Patrick Gallagher, president, Gallagher & Associates, Museum Planning and Design, Environmental Graphic Design  

EVENT #2
MARRIED AT THE MOB MUSEUM
Mass Wedding officiated by Oscar B. Goodman
The Mob Museum Courtroom
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 8 a.m.
(media must be in place by 7:45 a.m.)
Champagne toast at MOB BAR, 201 N. 3^rd Street (walking distance from Museum) at 9 a.m.

Join the seven lucky couples chosen at random via an online promotion sponsored by vegas.com, The Mob Museum and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a special wedding ceremony conducted in The Museum’s historic courtroom by former Las Vegas Mayor and museum visionary Oscar B. Goodman. This is not your typical chocolate and flowers Valentine’s Day celebration!  Following the ceremony, join the couples for a champagne toast and brunch at MOB BAR – just down the street from The Mob Museum.

Interview opportunities with winning couples, Oscar B. Goodman.

EVENT #3

GRAND OPENING CEREMONY
Outside The Mob Museum on 3^rd Street
Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 10 a.m.

Join the Board of Directors of The Mob Museum, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman, Las Vegas City Councilman Ricki Y. Barlow and friends and supporters of The Mob Museum for the official grand opening ceremony of The Mob Museum with a featured performance by The Jersey Boys.

Interview opportunities with Ellen Knowlton, Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman, Oscar B. Goodman, Ricki Y. Barlow, and others affiliated with The Museum. 

• TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BEGINNING AT 2 P.M. ON FEBURARY 14, 2012 FOLLOWING GRAND OPENING FESTIVITIES
• To RSVP and receive credentials and request interviews, visit https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDIyNHVVV0FNbDJZOVBEUFhuc0Qtbnc6MA  by February 9, 2012.

About The Mob Museum

The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. True stories of mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits, high-tech theater presentations and and more than 600 artifacts, the largest collection of mob and related law enforcement memorabilia under one roof.   Admission is $18 for adults ages 18 and over with special pricing for children, seniors, military, law enforcement and teachers; and $10 for Nevada residents of all ages. Museum hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.    For more information, call 702-229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themobmuseum  and on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum.

Contact:

FFW PR
Melissa Warren – 702-528-6016 or melissa@ffwpr.com
Eryn Sebelius – 702-234-6684

The Mob Museum
Ceres Hill – 702-229-2711 or cereshill@themobmuseum.org

Let’s face it – It can be challenging to be an active social media participant if you’re limited on time and resources. However, if you concentrate on a few key initiatives it’s not impossible and is actually kind of fun.

We think they had some good advice to share! The SocialMediaExaminer.com tips are below along with some notes of what we took away from the presentation.

• Give away your “secret sauce”
  Do not be afraid to discuss and share some of your “best stuff.”  Demonstrating your knowledge and sharing useful information that your followers can use and appreciate will keep them coming back for more. Plus, they may help you spread your content to their networks.
• Create a consistent look across social channels
  It’s all about branding – That means you should do your best to keep the same look, color scheme, profile picture, etc. across the board on all of your social media accounts.
• Leverage photographs to convey emotion
  We all love looking at photos. You don’t have to be a pro photographer to snap some great shots that your followers will enjoy looking at.
• Give folks a reason to keep coming back
  Content is king – Offering a variety of quality content keeps your followers engaged. This can include many things, such as photos, video, promotions and blog posts.
• Create a community and reward participation
  You want to find ways to thank your community for engaging with your page and content. Incentives such as discounts and giveaways can do the trick.
• Use video to show stories and examples
  Video is a very effective way to connect with your followers. Your video can range from a highly produced piece to video from your cell phone camera. (We love using video to help tell our client’s stories)
• Give special content to fans and subscribers
  You want your followers to feel special. They took the time to ‘like’ or follow you, so make time to give back to them through exclusive content or incentives.
• Showcase employees and writers
  Put a face to the names of your team members. This will help your followers feel even more connected to your company.
• Create highly sharable content and embed sharing options
  Make sure you make it easy to share the content you’ve worked so hard to create. Followers should be able to share or embed your content with a click of a finger.

They highlight some of the examples of businesses with successful social media stories here.

We want to know: Any additional social media advice you have for businesses? Please share!

The Mob Museum partners with VEGAS.com to launch MARRIED AT THE MOB MUSEUM promotion

LAS VEGAS, NV — The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and VEGAS.com, the most comprehensive Las Vegas travel website visited by more than 2.5 million visitors monthly, announce a promotion to award seven lucky couples with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to marry, renew their vows or formally commit to one another at The Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2012.

The promotion, MARRIED AT THE MOB MUSEUM, is highlighted by a special marriage ceremony conducted by former Las Vegas Mayor and former “go-to” mob defense attorney, Oscar B. Goodman, inside The Museum’s historic courtroom.   In 1950, the courtroom was the site of one of 14 nationwide Kefauver hearings to expose organized crime. It’s the same courtroom where Goodman once defended such notorious mobsters as Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Anthony “The Ant” Spilotro.  Goodman, who served three terms as Las Vegas Mayor from 1999 to 2011, is currently retained by the LVCVA as Chairman of the Host Committee, welcoming groups to Las Vegas.

The couples, to be chosen via random drawing on VEGAS.com, will make history themselves as the first members of the public to go inside The Museum on opening day. Winning couples will be flown to Las Vegas courtesy of the LVCVA and enjoy a three-day/two-night stay (February 13 and 14) in the Cabana Suites at the historic El Cortez Hotel once owned by Bugsy Siegel.  The prize package also includes flowers by Gaia, photography, a champagne brunch at MOB BAR following the early morning ceremony and a $250 shopping spree at Fashion Show mall on the famed Las Vegas Strip.  Winners will also receive expedited assistance with securing a marriage license in Las Vegas on February 13.

The promotion launches on January 16 and runs through January 31, 2012. Winners will be chosen and notified no later than February 1. For promotion details, eligibility, rules and regulations and to enter to win, visit www.vegas.com/weddings.

About The Mob Museum

The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. True stories of mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits, high-tech theater presentations and iconic artifact displays.  Admission is $18 plus tax for adults ages 18 and over with special pricing for children, seniors, military, law enforcement and teachers; and $10 plus tax for Nevada residents of all ages. Museum hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.    For more information, call 702-229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themobmuseum  and on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum.

About VEGAS.com
VEGAS.com is the largest city destination travel website in the world with extensive, constantly updated information and a full range of travel products including Las Vegas hotels, Las Vegas air & hotel packages, Las Vegas shows, tours and golf. A state-of-the-art contact center provides customer support, expert information and sales 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to complement the information on www.VEGAS.com. VEGAS.com, through its Casino Travel & Tours unit, operates retail and concierge desks at more than 50 locations including the Palms, Paris, Harrah’s, Bally’s, Excalibur, New York-New York, Luxor and more. The company also offers a variety of excursions including city tours, the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. VEGAS.com is a member of the Greenspun Family of Companies, privately owned and operating in Southern Nevada for more than 60 years.

About the LVCVA

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center.  With approximately 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 10 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area.  For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.VisitLasVegas.com.

Contact:
FFW PR
Melissa Warren – 702-528-6016 or melissa@ffwpr.com
Eryn Sebelius – 702-234-6684 or eryn@ffwpr.com

The Mob Museum
Ceres Hill – 702-229-2711 or cereshill@themobmuseum.org

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 8, 2012) –An exciting cultural destination and new focal point for downtown Las Vegas, The Mob Museum, opening on Valentine’s Day 2012, is now accepting reservations for special event rentals and group ticket sales in the 41,000-square-foot historic venue. In addition, advance group ticket sale pricing is now available for corporate, community and school groups.

The Mob Museum is a modern-day museum and offers highly experiential and interactive experiences for those having an event at the facility. Fascinating stories are brought to life through one-of-a-kind artifacts, interactive touch screens and unique ways to engage with law enforcement and organized crime materials. For example, during a party guests can “shoot” a simulated tommy gun, listen to real FBI surveillance tapes on wiretapping equipment and take part in FBI weapons training.

The Museum features many different rooms to accommodate groups from 10 people up to 400. “The historic court room at the center of the Museum is a perfect backdrop for an elegant sit down dinner for groups up to 120, while the building’s entry that is lined with the original post office boxes creates a unique and historic setting that will fuel interesting conversation at any cocktail party,” said Maria Sawyer, sales manager for The Museum.  “The ground level multi-purpose room or the third floor Board Room is a perfect place for lunch and a lecture.”

The appeal of gangsters, organized crime, and law enforcement has long been an irresistible attraction of popular culture, film, and fiction. These fascinating themes are the focus of The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, a world-class destination dedicated to the history and battle between organized crime and law enforcement.

The Mob Museum is located in what many consider the ultimate artifact, the former federal courthouse and United States Post Office. The building was dedicated on November 27, 1933 as the city’s first federal building and is listed on the Nevada and National Registers of Historic Places.

The building is significant not only for its beautiful neo-classical architecture reminiscent of the period in which it was built, but also for the historic events that unfolded inside of it. The unique facility is culturally significant as the location where one of 14 national Kefauver hearings was held to expose and control organized crime in America.  It also houses the same courtroom where former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, once the Mob’s go-to attorney, defended notorious mobsters like Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, Meyer Lansky and Anthony Spilotro. It has been rehabilitated by The Mob Museum into a contemporary cultural destination in the heart of downtown focusing on the history, significance, and influence of organized crime and law enforcement.

“Given the global fascination with organized crime and all the intriguing tales that are part of its lore, The Mob Museum is a fun and exciting new place for a variety of special events,” said Sawyer.  “Interest has already been strong from groups desiring to rent The Mob Museum for a variety of gatherings.”

The Mob Museum includes 17,000 square feet of exhibition space on three floors in addition to a specialty retail store, special event areas, educational areas and office space.  Admission is $18 plus tax for adults ages 18 and over; $12 plus tax for children ages 5 to 17 and students ages 18 to 23 with ID; $14 plus tax for seniors, military, law enforcement and teachers; and $10 plus tax for Nevada residents of all ages. Museum hours will be Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

For more information about special event rentals and group ticket sales, contact Sawyer at 702-229-2713; or via email at msawyer@themobmuseum.org.

About The Mob Museum

The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. With tales so intriguing they need no embellishment, The Museum reveals an insider’s look at the events and people on both sides of this continuing battle. True stories of mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits and multi-sensory experiences. The Mob Museum puts the visitor in the middle of the action through high-tech theater presentations, iconic one-of-a-kind artifacts and interactive, themed environments. For more information, call 702-229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themobmuseum  and on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum.

Contact:

Melissa Warren – FFW PR
melissa@ffwpr.com or 702-528-6016

Eryn Sebelius – FFW PR
eryn@ffwpr.com or 702-234-6684

Ceres Hill – The Mob Museum
cereshill@themobmuseumorg or 702-229-2711

LAS VEGAS, NV — The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, announces that famed Hollywood author, screenwriter and producer, Nicholas Pileggi, will host a special film for the Museum’s exhibit on how the mob is portrayed in pop culture.  The film, part of an exhibit called “The Myth of the Mob,” features an in-depth interview with Pileggi who is best known for his book and screenplay Casino, and his book, Wiseguy, which was adapted for the movie, “Goodfellas.” Both movies were directed by Martin Scorsese.

In the short film, Pileggi explains the global fascination with organized crime.  “Mobsters live and act outside of the law,” he said.  “They do what they want, when they want, without regard for consequences. Their fearless style makes for particularly compelling subject matter chronicled in some of the most popular books and movies of our time.”  Pileggi gives nod to “The Godfather” as the greatest mob movie ever.

A world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas, The Museum opens to the public on February 14, 2012 – the 83^rd anniversary of the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago that is considered one of the bloodiest days in Mob history.  Seven men affiliated with the Bugs Moran gang were murdered by the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone.  One of the Museum’s most iconic artifacts is the brick wall from the infamous Massacre.

The Mob Museum is dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world.

With tales so intriguing they need no embellishment, The Museum reveals an insider’s look at the events and people on both sides of this continuing battle. True stories of mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits and multi-sensory experiences. The Mob Museum puts the visitor in the middle of the action through high-tech theater presentations, iconic one-of-a-kind artifacts and interactive, themed environments.

A key Mob Museum visionary is former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, a former go-to defense attorney who made a name for himself representing such reputed mobsters as Meyer Lansky, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Anthony Spilotro, among others.  The Museum boasts a highly respected board of directors including professionals from local and state government, law enforcement, the judicial system, media and the Southern Nevada business community. The board is headed by Ellen Knowlton, former FBI Special Agent in Charge, Las Vegas Division, and a 24-year FBI veteran.

Artifacts to be integrated throughout the Museum’s interactive exhibits are associated with many of  organized crime’s biggest names, including, Alphonse Capone, Dion O’Bannion, George Moran, Charlie Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Ben Siegel, Sam Giancana, Joe Bonanno, Frank Rosenthal, Mickey Cohen, Tony Cornero and Tony Spilotro  to name just a few.   The Museum is also working with the FBI and many famous undercover agents who made a career of fighting the Mob, including legendary agents Joe Pistone who infiltrated the Mob posing as a small time jewel thief, Donnie Brasco; and Cuban-born Jack Garcia who successfully ingrained himself into the Gambino.

The Museum, a $42 million construction project funded by the city of Las Vegas and nearly $9 million in historic preservation grants – both federal and local, is under construction in the former United States Post Office and Court House at 300 Stewart Avenue in downtown Las Vegas. The building was dedicated on November 27, 1933 as the City’s first federal building. It housed the very courtroom, where in 1950, one of 14 national hearings were held to expose and control organized crime in America.  As part of the construction and rehabilitation of the building, the courtroom is being restored to appear as it did in 1950 during the famed Kefauver hearings, named for Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver.

The Mob Museum is being designed by a world-class team known for other successful museums that serve to reinvigorate communities and neighborhoods, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio and the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. This highly experienced team of staff, board members and consultants are working together to create one of the city’s major attractions and a must-see for millions of tourists and locals alike.

About The Mob Museum

The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. With tales so intriguing they need no embellishment, The Museum reveals an insider’s look at the events and people on both sides of this continuing battle. True stories of mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits and multi-sensory experiences. The Mob Museum puts the visitor in the middle of the action through high-tech theater presentations, iconic one-of-a-kind artifacts and interactive, themed environments. For more information, call 702-229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themobmuseum  and on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum.

Contact:

Melissa Warren – FFW PR
702-528-6016 or melissa@ffwpr.com

Ceres Hill – The Mob Museum
702-229-2711 or cereshill@themobmuseum.org

(Click on each item to read about the project. You can also check out the timeline, and full text version, on Timetoast.com)