Maggie and Brian Plaster love the way their downtown lifestyle in Las Vegas reminds them of Austin, Texas, where the college sweethearts lived and attended graduate school after they graduated from University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. The convenience of restaurants, shopping, businesses, and The Strip, as well as close proximity to each of their workplaces makes Las Vegas a great home for the downtown duo and their two children, Coleman, 4, and Gabriella, nearly 2. They love taking the kids to Bob Baskin Park, the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum and the Springs Preserve.

The Plasters are regulars at the businesses and restaurants nearby, including Broadway Pizza, Nozomi, Mix Zone Café, Las Vegas Dental Group on Charleston Blvd., Triple George Grill, Art Cleaners, Palace Station, and Mundo. The variety of shopping and dining options within walking distance was one of the factors that allowed them to obtain a LEED Platinum home certification.

Brian operates the family business, Signature Management, from the same office in nearby Quail Park on Rancho Drive that his parents first opened more than 30 years ago. An outdoorsy type who loves hiking, mountain biking and snowboarding, he enjoys their large backyard for his vegetable garden. According to Brian, roughly one-quarter of the family’s fresh vegetables come from his organic garden.

Not far away, Maggie oversees strategic planning for the city of Las Vegas as head of the Office of Performance Management, a position that gives her a vested interest in the redevelopment currently underway at Symphony Park and throughout downtown. She serves on the board of the Nevada Ballet Theatre and eagerly anticipates watching the company flourish as a resident of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

“We can’t wait for The Smith Center to open next spring,” said Maggie. “We’re so excited to have world-class performances from Broadway, Nevada Ballet Theatre and the Las Vegas Philharmonic right here in the heart of our city to share with our children, friends and family. We love the distinctive and unique character of the homes in this area and the convenient lifestyle. We can’t imagine raising our kids anywhere else.”

Photo: The Plaster family