Most of the trade shows are on the strip – but how fun is it to shuttle/uber/taxi to downtown Vegas for the Las Vegas Market?  Not that fun for me at first because there was no parking (I drove) so I had to, GOD FORBID, park at the Golden Nugget with my frequent gambler card as validation for the free parking…actually this was all just a good excuse for me to check out Fremont Street after the show and the world famous CADILLAC Bar…

So on to the Market which is an incredible display of West Coast Furniture, home decor and gift lines that you can “touch, feel and explore” according to the CEO of International Market Centers, Bob Maricich.  I attended last year’s market and was amazed at the miles  and miles of beautiful interiors that make me want to own a huge house again and move out of this furnished apartment!  Of course I love the CASH AND CARRY part of the pavilion and ended up carting away bagfuls of jewelry, purses, and Chachkies!

Kate Mesta and Sondra Piorek http://www.katemesta.com

Love this jewelry. Lots of celebrities wear these cool necklaces! They are from Laguna Beach, CA

My Cranston Jewelry Reps from Rhode Island…

Super funny slogans on towels

More straws to save the turtles…

Adorable baby gifts, Decker loves his doggie toy tummy time.

The Pink Knight

Chinese style horses

Great rugs everywhere

Straws again, these are straw holders

Glass Straws!

cleaning brush included with the Straws

I guess the slogan “Are you CES READY?” inspired me to make sure that I had all my ducks in a row in advance of the biggest trade show in Vegas this year.  Over 170,000 attendees were descending upon my “hood” in and around the convention center.  Did I mention that I actually live here at the bottom of the strip?  Yup, high rise ‘LIVIN in style at Turnberry. When the trade shows come to down we hunker down for days…try not to drive (we walk, UBER or monorail), and certainly can’t eat out at popular spots.  They laughed at us at our favorite Edge Steakhouse when they saw us coming and even BENIHANA’s wouldn’t let us in…too many conventioneers.

So here is the scoop from me on CES: It was every bit as exciting as I hoped it would be and bigger and better than last year. I know folks are critical and I heard a few say that they thought it was smaller than last year, but they must be crazy.  You could walk for days in a daze through the exhibit halls. I felt privileged to be a part of it as media and hope I can share a small bit with you.

This is a CIVIC? wow!

Love this little Nipper trademark doggie for Victrola old fashioned record players.

Amazing and beautiful huge screen display for Samsung

Pledge to America’s Workers by these companies

Ivanka! Keynote Speaker

My new e-gaming chair, so comfy!

remember pac-man?

Cool sunglasses

Consumer Electronic Show

HERE IS LAST YEAR’S POST – I’M READY FOR THIS YEAR’S BIG SHOW!

FROM JANUARY 2019:

I attended the Consumer Electronic Show here in Las Vegas at the convention center.  My head was spinning but I did learn who “NINJA” was, which was critical in my understanding of what kids today are watching, experiencing, and doing day in and day out.  Oh – don’t you know about ESPORTS and the new video gaming industry?  You better invest now if you want to be cool, “in the know”, and way ahead of the game.  Apparently “Ninja” is one of the top rated video gamers (who makes over $500,000 a month playing “Fortnite”) and he was mentioned several times throughout the conference.  I had to text my 23 year old son to find out who he was.  I also attended some very informative workshops about DIGITAL HOLLYWOOD.  We all need to be aware that there are other social media outlets that are coming on fast.  Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are going to be pushed aside by the newcomers.  I was amused by the speakers for the Digital Hollywood symposium who were “old timers” in Hollywood with tons of experience who had to enlist legions of millennials to understand today’s marketing online.  I am scared for the big Hollywood Studios…especially after watching all of my annual Screen Actors Guild movies this season.  Who knew that a superhero movie like “Black Panther” would win best film?   More later on my personal picks for 2018 films…

Overall I felt like a privileged outsider at the CES convention.  The Robots had personality, everyone tried the virtual reality goggles, and I was thrilled with the Victrola old fashioned Turntables making a comeback. Polaroid and Kodak have reinvented the instant camera and have mini printers you carry in your purse! Samsung and Sony have newer, smart LED screens (do they still call them tv’s??) and the rest of the cars, trucks, drones and self driving vehicles were overwhelming.  This from a gal who has attended mostly fashion shows, jewelry, makeup, and self help events this past year. My favorite gadget was a waterproof speaker that holds cocktails… WOW !

Chris Mallory speaks from the Raiders Foundation

Sony VR