Jace on Skates

Leona turned 10 this week. I put together a party for her at the Crystal Palace Skating rink here in Las Vegas. My husband and I grew up there so I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. I started skating when I was four years old. I continued through serious competitive roller speed skating until I was sixteen. My husband was the coolest skater I knew (but don't tell him I said that). Yes we've known each other that long. (a strange but cool story I suppose lol).

The skating rink is the same place just completely different. The carpet was changed it is intense but fun. The lighting is completely different with new technology LED glow lights everywhere. They changed a lot, which I am sure is necessary if you want to stay an active business.

The saddest part. There is no more roller-speed skating. Not a single team here. I guess it was a popular thing in the 90's and died off when ice-speed skating was introduced into the 2002 Winter Olympics. I knew when they were scouting for Olympic Development in about 1996 they were ecstatic at the possibilities of skating int he Olympics, but I knew if it went ice no one would be interested in roller.

Now 12 years later there is no roller-speed team left in Las Vegas. 

So back to the party... We invited 10 girls and the rest family. I had no intention of skating. My daughter brought some skates she had received from Grama. Jace tried to run onto the floor first chance he got. Hence we both ended up in skates.

He tried to take off with only one skate on. I was surprised they fit since they are a size too big. He was determined. I thought I was little when I started but almost two and he is on roller skates. I think because it is in his bones. I mean their parents met at the skating rink. Without that place my life would be drastically different for one I wouldn't have met my husband.

I suppose his fascination with the skates makes sense since he loves everything and anything with wheels. They were adorable. I was surprised. When you are a "speed-skater" you don't wear the gross rental skates. However they are new. Thank goodness! I would've been a little weird-ed out if they were the exact same skates from when I was little. 

When I was younger the floor was a little different. I would plop myself on the floor for whatever reason. Now it just felt so foreign. It has changed a lot seeing as with speed-skating and then came roller-hockey the rink smelled like sweat, dirty feet and grease. It of course was a very distinct smell. I didn't know at the time but my younger sister would always tease me when I got home from practice (and we practiced 3 times a day for Regionals) that I smelled like the skating-rink. I thought cool, but it really wasn't a compliment.

NOW it didn't smell. They must've upgraded their AC units or ventilation or since there is no more speed-skating or dirty hockey gear there is less sweat and dirty feet everywhere. 

He seemed to be fascinated with the wheels. Part of me is sad though my kids will never know the thrill of being on a competitive speed-skating team or racing the way I knew it. Sure skating at the public sessions is fun I did it every day sometimes multiple sessions a day, but it just isn't the same as racing. 

Maybe by the time they are old enough to race they will start another team. The owner's son or possibly the owner now did say it comes and goes but it was huge in the 90's that is for sure.

Town Square

Town Square Las Vegas

6659 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Town Square is like a large European style village made up of a variety of shops. It is a well planned and very spacious outdoor mall. The taller buildings offer shade from the blazing sun. The individual kiosks offer warmth in the winter.

We love the shops, and it is designed better than the downtown outlet mall both of which are outside. We don't go here very often though because it is off the strip. It isn't exactly far but with traffic it could take 45 minutes if not longer just to get home. 

During the holidays the traffic around the area with Christmas shopping and being just off the strip makes it potentially an even longer trip. We have figured out too to plan our trips around movie times so the let out isn't as bad either.

However, they do offer really good food options and a fun play area for the kids. I prefer going to this park during the summer because of the large water area. The water play area is a huge flat rectangle made of soft squish material that doesn't burn you bare feet so you don't have to keep your shoes on.

We prefer this in the summer because the water area keeps the kids cool. In the winter the water of course is shutdown limiting the attraction as Jace is still a bit little be climbing up the steep ladders to the tree-house. In the area they also have train rides, a tree house, slides, a kid theater, and a fun hedge maze to get lost in. 

You can see he was a little nervous to go in the water. I don't blame him. The water is clean and it appears to be recycled which is great for our area being a desert. Only it smells like a pool. With all the children they have to have some precautions set in place.

My children have never been those kids that run through the water and come back soaked. Although I say that and this day Madison did end up soaked.

There is also a small area clubhouse with a stove and fridge etc. Jace loved the windows. Although I had to grab him a few times because he wanted to climb out the windows. This would a be great for a backyard. If only my husband was a builder...