Well it was certainly one of those beautiful and activity filled weekends here in Las Vegas.  One of the tremendous events that took place Downtown on Main Street near the Arts Factory was Greening The Block.  This was a two day event where a city block was transformed into a variety of wonderful shops, a farmers market, a raw food cafe, a coffee house, and more filled with recycled and upcycled goods and furniture.  The beautiful weather and great crowd made you think you were strolling along a street in Santa Monica.  Music filled the air.  There was plenty of other things going on including dancers, yoga classes, hoops going round and round, and pet adoptions.  This was truly amazing as it gave a powerful visual of what could happen to a city block with some vision and concerted effort. I believe it is a part of the vision for the Downtown to come.

I had the opportunity to have lunch in the pop-up raw foods cafe that was put on by Raw Fusion.  They are all about pure food cuisine, high energy foods, and organics. Raw Fusion is the collaboration of Chef Stacey Dougan, the vegan chef at the Wynn resort; Shane Stuart, a master raw mixologist; Chef Leona, a certified raw chef; and Chef Meka, a certified nutritionist, raw chef, as well as the founder if Raw Fusion.  The had some wonderful raw food items available to purchase and I had the Spring Rolls with a sweet Thai dipping sauce and the mock Chick’n Lettuce Wraps.  It was lovely just enjoying these out on the street side tables made from recycled pallets.  Both the Spring Rolls and the Lettuce Wraps were delicious and it was great lunch at Greening the Block. Chef Stacey Dougan and Raw Mixologist Shane Stuart also teach a Raw Fusion Food class at Whole Foods Market on the second Tuesday of each month at the Town Square Location. The tuition is free but a $5.00 minimum donation supports the wonderful and local non-profit, Vegas Roots Community Garden.  

I know I only experienced a part of all that went on during this two-day event but I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.  It was a terrific community event and everyone seemed to be having a great experience.  It was a powerful visual of what can and will be and I hope that this becomes an annual event here in Las Vegas.  This past weekend, the future was now and a little greener and lovely on a block of Main Street.  Everyone that had a hand in putting this event together and participated in it should be smiling today.  It was simply a brilliant effort.

Raw Fusion

www.rawfusionfoods.com