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Made L.V. to Close: Is Tivoli Village Cursed for Local Restaurants?

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Made L.V. to Close: Is Tivoli Village Cursed for Local Restaurants?

Local food critic and rainbow aficionado Al Mancini has revealed that Made LV is shutting down in Tivoli after a very brief stay. The innovative restaurant opened by the famous Elizabeth Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla, was just launched less than two years ago to much fanfare, leaving many people to wonder if local restaurants can ever make it in Tivoli village.

Goodbye to a Great Concept but Wrong Location?
Goodbye to a Great Concept but Wrong Location?

Made L.V. replaced another doomed restaurant Hops & Harvest which had opened only a few years earlier to pretty good reviews also, but had never gained traction with locals.
As one yelp reviewer (who gave it 4 stars!) put it only 15 days ago:

I can only assume that this place will end up out of business in 6 months time like every single restaurant that has ever occupied this particular space in Tivoli Village. This is probably the 5th restaurant that Ive noticed in the building and they simply never end up successful.

Made L.V. is being replaced by a beer and sports bar, PKWY Tavern, which caters to a much less-affluent level of people than Made L.V. does, with microwaved frozen food and chips and dips. PKWY even has a beer loyalty program which gives points to those who drink the most, and has regular contests pitting expert drunks against other expert drunks. Not a knock against the place, as every single place caters to an audience and knowing that audience is what smart business people do.

However, this is not exactly the audience that Tivoli has been claiming to have?

Tivoli has not been kind to restaurants with places like Social Bistro and Wine bar shutting down for not paying rent less than a year after launch, after losing Pizza Lounge. Poppy Den, which seemed to always be busy was quickly replaced by Stratta a Tapas Restaurant, which only lasted for a bit, to be transformed into southern-like restaurant, Salt & Pepper – which then also closed.
What is the result of all this? Chain restaurants have completely taken over Tivoli including Brio, Cantina Laredo, and Kabuki Japanese Restaurant. The only non-chain restaurant is now Echo and Rig, a modern highly rated Steakhouse.

Personally, I am very curious why restaurants can’t seem to make it in this very beautiful outdoor mall location. Even on this Saturday, during a festival which was fairly well attended despite being rained on, the restaurants were fairly empty. I went to one of my favorite “chains” Brio, and was amazed there was no wait for lunch and the place was sparsely filled – unlike the location at Town Square which is always packed, and usually requires a wait for lunches.

I spoke to a few employees of Tivoli yesterday, trying to get an idea why the restaurants are not succeeding. One of them told me the main issue is parking in front of the restaurants, which are non-existent. That even Made L.V. has parking, but its almost always taken over by people going to other places.

Whatever it is, the locations at Tivoli are becoming well known for being impossible to build a successful restaurant in.

See Elizabeth Blau talk about her new restaurant on CBS This Morning

Blau was a pivotal figure in the transformation of Las Vegas from a whiskey and steakhouse gambling town to the world-class dining city it is today. She now co-owns several restaurants with her husband, Chef Kim Canteenwalla, with the latest being Andiron Steak & Sea, a fine-dining location in suburban Las Vegas. Blau joins “CBS This Morning: Saturday” to discuss her career and share some of her signature dishes.

 

Is Alon Project Being Canceled? Crown Resorts CFO Hints to Bad Times

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Is Alon Project Being Canceled? Crown Resorts CFO Hints to Bad Times

Alon, the strip project made to directly compete with Steve Wynn’s projects, seems failing to launch at all. Despite being backed by Australian Billionaire James Packer’s Crown Resorts, the project has not raised additional funds to actually ever start, making it look like it might never get off the ground.

Crown Resorts CFO Ken Barton has revealed in earning calls of the company this quarter, that their debt-to-cash ratio court hurt them and their US investments, and worse they haven’t found a way to fix this problem.

Credit Suisse reported last year that Crown Resorts was trying to raise money by selling its stake, leading much of the investment world seeing Alon (Pronounced like A-Hole) as an investment dud. Crown Resorts was trying to sell $425 million of the project to new investors, but no investors have materialized, and there has been zero positive buzz in the investment world.

The very fact that the “owner” of this project no longer wants to be involved and doesn’t see it as a safe investment anymore doesn’t make anyone want to be involved with the project. Plus, with Crown already losing  hundreds of millions on the similarly placed eye sore Fountain Blue project, who would want to make the same mistake, twice? That building is almost built, yet no one wants to touch that toxic investment.

The only construction done so far.

Why is this project on its death bed?

First of all, the resort was being made in order to capitalize on the growing interest of China’s elite in the gambling and Las Vegas. However, with China’s economy slowing and the government putting more and more restrictions on cash leaving the Country in a crack-down on corruption, there is a lot less Chinese cash coming into Vegas.

Also, don’t forget Crown Resorts and Oaktree Capital’s huge losses in the American casino world, which included them doing a mass liquidation of casino properties in the last month. On top of that, Crown Resorts was fined $362 million by the Australian Tax Authorities this year for unpaid taxes related to some of its investments – taking a good chunk of investment cash from the company.

Crown Resorts has also made it clear that they are focusing more and more on Australian Investments moving forward, having spent almost $4 billion on apartment on hotel projects in Sydney and Melbourne in the last 24 months.

Even if the project does materialize, which looks more and more unlikely as time goes by, the key players that have been hired to help launch the project will more than likely not stick around.

Scott Roeben of VitalVegas points out in his article yesterday, that many of the key players in the project are already talking about bouncing.

Alon has recruited a powerhouse team of operations and nightlife executives, but rumblings are a couple of key players will quietly depart the project as reality sinks in that Alon is years away, and that’s the optimistic scenario.

Alon’s executives include former Wynn Resorts executive Andrew Pascal, former SLS president Rob Oseland, Danielle Babilino (former Senior Vice President of Hotel Sales at Wynn Las Vegas) and Las Vegas nightlife “czar” Jesse Waits.

Aria Shuts Down Zarkana For Serious Suckage

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Aria Shuts Down Zarkana For Serious Suckage

If you’ve not seen Zarkana, you’re not really missing out. While it’s not clear if it is really the worst rated show in Cirque Du Soleil history, many locals and visitors have commented that they think it probably is. The show, only three years later with only 1,600+ performances on the strip will be closing on April 3oth with very few people missing it.

Yelp agrees that this is the worst rated Cirque Show ever, with many Yelpers giving it less than stellar reviews:

Let me start off by saying this was one of the worst Cirque du Soleil shows I have seen, even the ones that set up tent in cities around the nation are better.

However we are being generous to give this 1 star.  Don’t waste your money on this boring, mindless theatrical disaster.   We have seen Cirque shows going back to the beginning when you sat on wooden benches in tents and have enjoyed everyone with the exception of this production

I saw the show in Vegas tonight. I almost puked. The clown time was too much and they were not even funny. The number of acrobatic shows were pretty much 4 scattered around the clown show. The only impressive one was the girl juggling the balls, The trapeze show was short and the guys couldn’t even do the simplest turns and one fell off. What an amateur show for 150 bucks. Never again.

Robin Leach of Lifestyle Fame isn’t happy about it closing, since he seems to be one of the few actual fans of the show in Las Vegas:

It’s an embarrassing end to a Cirque spectacular, as MGM Resorts execs have ruled that revenue from expanded meeting and convention space would be greater than the magical artistic endeavor. So for the second time since “Mystere” at Treasure Island established Cirque on the Strip, one of its shows ends.

It’s a tragedy because although “Zarkana” started here as a confused production with its own Cirque language about a magician who loses his mojo, it later found its perfect footing. When I saw it a few weeks ago in preparation for its finale, the show was in its best shape ever and with a full theater.

LVRJ Writer Mike Weatherford isn’t a big fan however of the show, and said was “One Cirque Show Too Many” and points out that this was the second failure in the same theater.

“Zarkana” seemed to suffer from Cirque fatigue, which the company had otherwise sought to combat with its musically themed partnerships with the Beatles (“Love”) and Michael Jackson (“One.”)

The first Aria version of “Zarkana,” perhaps mistakenly, shed Littlemore’s English-language songs and most of the story about a magician who revives the ghosts of an abandoned theater in a bid to reunite with his lost love.

When the show retooled last year, even the magician was gone. What was left was a redundant variation of “Mystere,” which was fine with MGM Resorts International, since it had sold “Mystere” with the rest of Treasure Island to Phil Ruffin.

Good news is that MGM is getting rid of the theater, realizing that it might be a loser, and is turning it into a convention space.

Six Vegas Influencers You Must Know to Do Business in Vegas

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Six Vegas Influencers You Must Know to Do Business in Vegas

What exactly is an Influencer? An influencer is someone who is well connected and has an impact on other people. People who are influencers are regarded as being more knowledgeable about expert subject and when they give their opinion, others listen. In Las Vegas, influencers are extremely important as they help the industry of Vegas know what events are important, what restaurants are opening that are good, and where to send tourists and clients. Influences may influence consumers, other experts and influencers, or hold influence in different ways that are hard to understand– such as behind the scenes, or control major publications and social media accounts.

Here are SEVEN (7) people in Las Vegas whose decisions, opinions and likes make news and waves:

manny1Baller Brander Manny Kess
 (702) 701-6003
emanuelkess@gmail.com
http://thekessgroup.com/
https://www.facebook.com/manny.kess
Manny Kess is CEO of The Kess Group, a VIP and Event Services company that almost exclusively services some of the most successful and famous NBA, NFL and NHL stars. Viva Vegas TV easily named him the Best VIP Host in Las Vegas for 2015. You know that TV Show Ballers with Dwane “The Rock” Johnson, where he works with some of the top sports stars and lives the high live traveling everywhere? Kess has that life, except he is getting paid to make that life happen for SuperBowl Ring wearers. Why know Manny Kess? Whether it’s opening a new club or restaurant, you want to give him access in order that he might bring his clients there. A photo of SuperBowl Quarterback eating at your restaurant on Instagram can be worth the most expensive advertising campaign.

scott444Duke of Downtown Scott Roeben
scott@vitalvegas.com
http://www.vitalvegas.com
While his official job is marketing for the Fremont Street Experience, Scott Roeben is also the owner of the enormously successful and award-winning blog Las Vegas blog, VitalVegas. This blog, which I have been informed does not take advertising, is one of the most influential and well-read blogs that covers everything in Vegas including the growing downtown area.  His podcast has launched him to a new level last year, and is well worth listening to, especially with in-depth interviews with business leaders.  How to Work With Scott? Email him about events, invite him, and more importantly, talk to him about what is going on.

dnYelper Grower Michael Uzmann
http://endoedibles.com/
https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=U4INQZOPSUaj8hMjLlZ3KA
https://www.facebook.com/uhockey?fref=ts
While his writing style may be annoying verbose at times, no one can deny that Uzmann is the most influential Vegas based Yelper. His full time job is a Medical Doctor, but in his “spare” time he shares his love of food from his travels around the world. With over 3,300 reviews on Yelp, he is a perfect example of an influencer of influencers, because his Yelp reviews are read by thousands of other influencial Yelpers who have connected with him, and it used as reference for many other publications when picking restaurants to review. How to work with him? Add him on Facebook and invite him to your restaurant. Be prepared to show him every single bit of food, because he doesn’t hold back.

k2Real Housewife of Las Vegas Amanda Kouretas
https://www.instagram.com/amandakoureta
https://www.facebook.com/amanda.kouretas?fref=ts
 Former Mrs. Nevada America Amanda Kouretas’ full time job may very well be taking selfies, but all the fashionable and sexy moms of Las Vegas follow her, albeit with a sense of extreme jealousy. Proving that being pretty can be a career in the new online economy, Amanda Kouretas uses her wealth and impeccable taste in everything gaudy and glamorous to drive other socialites all over Las Vegas.  How to work with Amanda? Flash anything that shines, and send her an email about your newest product. She knows everyone in Las Vegas with money, attends the biggest events and makes sure everyone notices her. While she pays for her own Birkin bags, I’m sure she wont turn down free stuff in return for a mention.

John_CurtasRestaurant Pimp John Curtas
http://www.eatinglv.com/
https://twitter.com/eatinglasvegas
Since 1995, John Curtas has been the guy every one associates with eating in Las Vegas. He’s been on KNPR, is a regular on Wake up with Wagners, Top Chef Masters, Iron Chef America and publishes the essential guide to eating in Las Vegas. His feud with a famous chef made him a few enemies but was quickly forgotten by most restaurants and Chefs who appreciate his opinion and insight from 20 years of experience. Want to have him feature your restaurant? Email him and invite him to your restaurant at johncurtas@me.com

maxresdefault (1)Entertainment Driver Norm Clarke
 https://twitter.com/norm_clarke
http://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/columns-blogs/norm-clarke
https://www.facebook.com/norm.clarke.54?fref=ts While he’s officially the Las Vegas Review Journals Gossip Columnist, writing since 1999 about all the secrets of celebrities and locals, he’s also probably one of the biggest drivers of entertainment revenue in Las Vegas. What makes him so important is that almost everyone reads his column and has it bookmarked, and when he talks about anything anyone listens. How to work with him? Invite him to an event, add him on Facebook and become a source for anything juicy about Las Vegas.

How to Work with Local Vegas Blogs: VegasSeven vs. VitalVegas.com

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How to Work with Local Vegas Blogs: VegasSeven vs. VitalVegas.com

If you’re a local business in Vegas trying to promote yourself using some of the local publications and blogs, you’re not going to find a lot of information about those sites and their distribution. Most blogs don’t have third party research, and many of them just blatantly lie about their size and traffic. However, one of our sister publications Performance Marketing Insider has access to data about different sites, and we’ve decided to examine these sites, their traffic and their reach using third party tools. Hopefully this will allow more people to make educated decisions about where to promote their products, where to buy advertising and what audiences’ different sites in Las Vegas reach.

vegas-seven-1-17-13-gregg-allman-1
VegasSeven.com
Est 64-74,000 visitors a month
1.69 Page Views per Visitors
Traffic Sources: Search 46.4%, Social 28.9%, Links 6.5%, Direct: 18.3%
Estimated Social Reach Twitter+Facebook: 150,000 uniques
Demographics: More Males than Females. More Likely to Have a Graduate Degree. Browse almost all from Work. 35-44 is largest age group with 45-54 second largest age goup. $100k+ income. Almost all Caucasian. Almost all no children.
Owned by Wendoh Media, this online and offline magazine is the go-to place about what is going on in Las Vegas. Its glossiness is both captured both online and offline, and most of the publication is local fluff pieces that cover everything from restaurants to rock concerts and everything in between. Edited by local writer Xania Woodman and with legendary food writer Al Mancini, it’s one of Vegas’ most popular local free bar & grocery store magazines.
Contact for Advertising: Nicole.Scherer@wendohmedia.com (702) 798-7000

vital_vegas_header2013
VitalVegas.com
Est. 65-75,000 visitors a month
1.3 Page Views per Visitor Traffic Sources:
Search 32.33%, Social 12.67%, Links 8%, Direct 47%
Estimated Social Reach Facebook+Twitter: 35,000 uniques
Demographics: More Females than Males. More Likely to Have a Degree or Graduate Degree. Mainly browse at home, but also at work. 35-44 is largest age group with 25-34 second largest age group. Almost no penetration 45+. 30-60k average income. Almost all Caucasian with a small Asian audience. Almost all no Children.
Owned and run by local downtown guy Scott Roeben, this originally functioned as his personal blog and has become one of the top Vegas buzz sites to learn about everything and anything. More recently his celebrated podcast has helped skyrocked his ranking on the internet almost 33% higher in only a few months and bring tons of new visitors and readers.
Contact for Advertising: scott@vitalvegas.com

Take-away: VegasSeven is an older, more affluent audience with more disposable income, but probably less open to new ideas and new products. Most seem to be single white men who are searching for topics, or click on links that are shared with them by friends. Means they are probably more likely to be influenced by others. VitalVegas.com on the other hand is a more hip, downtown audience of people, younger but less affluent. The direct traffic shows that the people are more likely to be connected to the brand of VitalVegas and use it as their homepage. Probably younger, more independent thinkers who depend on blogs and rumors to make decisions than direct sales and branding.

Traffic and Demographics are estimates based on third party data and personal expertise and interpretation.

9 Awesome Beer Adventures in Las Vegas (Not for the Faint Hearted!)

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9 Awesome Beer Adventures in Las Vegas (Not for the Faint Hearted!)

Sometimes you really need a drink, and by a drink I mean a beer. If you’re tired of Eduardo, the mixologist who assures you that you’ll love his newest drink made with every single color he could find behind the counter, maybe it is time to try some of the best beer experiences in Vegas. We’ve compiled 9 different experiences that you need to try at least once. If you love beer as much as me, you’ll want to try one of these every other day for 18 days, and then perhaps go back to the start and try them all again.

If anyone asks, just say that PaceVegas told you it was for science.

Aces and Ales
Aces and Ales

Meet Locals at Aces & Ales (Map)
3740 S Nellis Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89121
Aces and Ales is inspired by London pub life, with over 100 different beers and a focus on really good gourmet comfort food.  This is a perfect place for anyone who considered themselves a Beer Geek, and wants to learn more about how different beers are made from their very informed and educated staff. Over 50 rotating taps make for an amazing selection, and 50 more bottles of beer including local brews and favorites. You’ll find a lot of local beer lovers here and even bartenders from other establishments after they are done with work.

Get Sophisticated with Public House (Map)
The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Not to be confused with the place at Luxor, which uses the same name but no affiliation whatsoever, the Public House at the Venetian is the best gastropub in Las Vegas, with a huge selection of craft beers and cuisine to match. With an in-house cicerone aka beer-sommelier, you can get fresh, live beer that is from a cask that is still fermenting before you drink it. They use the only direct-draw system that uses no nitrogen to move it allowing for a better taste and interpretation of the beer.

Be a Hooligan at Todd English P.U.B. (Map)
City Center, 3720 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89158
Todd English’s greasy interpretation of an English pub is filled with the most delicious, albeit fattening foods. Located next to the Shops at Crystals, P.U.B. has an excellent selection of amazing food that includes the “workman’s” grilled cheese made from brie and double smoked bacon to the Duck Buns an Asian inspired confit of duck in hoisin sauce on steamed Asian buns. As for the beer, while you are going to be charged Vegas strip prices, the pours are very generous and the selection is excellent. More importantly, this is the only place on the Strip that you can buy traditional Meads.

Open Mic at Money Plays
Open Mic at Money Plays

Go Open Mic at Money Plays (Map) 
4755 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103
This 24-hour dive bar isn’t the type of place that you’d expect to find a decent selection, partially because its situated next to a Title Loan Establishment, where many people get cash and then immediately take it to the bar and don’t care what they drink. However, they’ve managed to make a name for themselves with a selection of beer, wine and sake.  With 24 Beers on tap and 90 to choose from in bottles, this Dive bar is a must try, especially considering they keep the prices to “neighborhood bar” levels.  Every Thursday at 8pm is “Open Mic,” where you can get free prizes and in theory, free beer for exposing yourself to other patrons.

Do Yoga at CraftHaus Las Vegas Brewery (Map)
7350 Eastgate Rd Ste 110, Henderson, NV 89011 
While it’s located in an industrial complex in the middle of nowhere, this local small brewery offers a few of their local beers on tap with a great staff of experts. You can go there and try their amazing Resonate IPA and Evocation Saison by itself, or you can come to their once a month yoga classes. With instructor Tas Upright, “Booze Yoga” has gained a following of drunk yogis who love to relax with a beer and then do yoga at the same time. Strangely enough it works. Learn more here

Eat Octopus with Beer at Carnevino (Map)
3325 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 
While Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich wanted to make Carnevino known for its Steak and Wine, it’s become a favorite of those who like unique beer paired with what some people considered the best Steak on the West Coast. However, what makes this place exceptional is the bartenders who are also experts at pairing with seasonal food menus made from Star Executive Chef Nicole Brisson. Top Bartender Adam Rains says that everyone should try the Grilled Octopus with Brooklyn Breweries Sorachi Ace at least once.

St. Baldricks @ McMullan's
St. Baldricks @ McMullan’s

Watch Rubgy at McMullan’s Irish Pub (Map)
4650 W Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89103
McMullans is known as the St. Patrick’s Day Headquarters of Las Vegas, but also where locals often go to watch Rugby and eat Fish and Chips while arguing about some archaic Irish feud. With some Irish alcoholic legends to be found here including Boddington’s Cream Ale and Magners Irish Cider, you’ll it won’t matter if you are a Rugby fan or not. This place is always packed with limo drivers and dealers from the Orleans Casino, so you’re always going to hear a great story. Make sure to try the All You Can Eat Fish and Chips on Thursdays.

Enjoy Vegas Style Micro Beer at Tenaya Creek Brewery (Map)
831 W Bonanza Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89106
No food, no gaming, no smoking, but just local Vegas beer. With lots of seating, regulars from the Las Vegas Review Journal just down the road, and smart well trained bartenders, this feels like a serious Brewery that is focusing just on making fabulous beer. While everything is considered good, highly recommend the 11 beer tasting sampler that is priced at $11. A live feed of their chalkboard wall shows exactly what they have including their seasonal specials and yearlong offerings.

Play Free Video Games at HighScores Blue Diamond (Map)
4785 Blue Diamond Rd, Las Vegas,  NV 89139
This “barcade” with an excellent selection of craft beers already made a name for itself in Henderson, but recently launched a new even more exciting version of itself in South West Las Vegas. The owner Richard Ditton, is a former NASA Engineer and founder of the largest manufacturer of amusement games in the United States. This may be the only place in Vegas where the people cheering are doing so watching a video game on a projector screen.

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Six Secret Places in Las Vegas that Most Tourists Don’t Know About

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Six Secret Places in Las Vegas that Most Tourists Don’t Know About

Everyone comes to Las Vegas, sees the huge signs for the newest restaurant, the newest club, the newest bar, and always probably wonder to themselves where those “in the know” go. While sometimes the hottest, sexiest place for those with money or connections is in fact the huge flashy club being advertised on the billboard, it’s often places and locations that you’d never consider, where both the cool kid, the fantastic artists and even the king makers come together and chat. Here’s six wonderful places you might never have known about, let alone have visited in Las Vegas

Get Titillated at the Burlesque Hall of Fame
520 Fremont Street, #120 Las Vegas, NV 89101 (MAP)
The seductive art of risqué dancing has always been associated with back smoky rooms, guys with money making deals, while watching Betty swing her appropriately covered twins. Founder Dixie Evans, known as the “Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque” died in 2013, but her legacy continues with a board of experts and fans of Burlesque that ensure anyone over 18 can enjoy thousands of historical costumes from the an art form that has never really died. While it’s free to visit, donations are appreciated.
Who you will met: Sexy Burlesque fans and curious tourists.

Eat Secret Pizza Slices Reserved for Locals
3708 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109 (MAP)
No one is quite sure if the Cosmopolitan’s Secret Pizza joint was planned, or one of the mega-resort’s designers had a coke-binge one weekend and added a secret corridor with no signs for one of the best pizzas in Las Vegas. Located between a glass elevator and the sushi joint, you can see guys who probably were just shipped in from Brooklyn, throw pizza in the air like a pro. The pizza just isn’t fun to watch being made, but it is amazingly tasty, crispy and perfect to hold slightly bent and folded like a boy from Brooklyn.  Who you will meet: Drunk tourists who thought hallway led to bathroom and hot clubbers pigging on pizza.

Brings Kids to Shipping Containers and Get Amazing Chocolate
707 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101 (MAP)
If you’re looking for something really fun for the kids, plus a little bit of an escape from the strip, come downtown to the Downtown Container Park. Made from a bunch of shipping containers, this unique little shopping area features a fire-breathing praying mantis that guards the entrance. When inside there is an one-of-a-kind interactive play area for kids that includes a life-sized treehouse that you can climb with your kids after taking in lunch and shopping a little.  While there find the best chocolate store in Las Vegas, and one of the best on the West Coast. JinJu Chocolates is owned by award winning Master chocolatier Jin Caldwell, who supplies some of the top hand Chocolates to some of the best Casinos in Las Vegas. Who you will meet: Young Downtown families and Zappos Employees.

Find an Oasis in the Desert at Las Vegas Springs Preserve
333 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, 89107 (MAP)
Just three miles away from downtown Las Vegas, is the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, a 180 acre nature preserve and museum that is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Water District. With over 300 interactive exhibits, it’s a learning experience both for children and parents. Two indoor air-conditioned galleries contain exhibits that tell the story of Las Vegas past, present and future and introduce a menagerie of the live bats, foxes, snakes, spiders and lizards that call the desert home.
Who you will meet: Kids and Families, and lots of desert creatures.

Play with Lions at the Lion Habit Ranch
382 Bruner Ave, Henderson, NV 89044 (MAP)
40 Lions hang out in this nine acre ranch just 12 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Right behind the M resort in Henderson, visitors can get up close and persona with them, and even watch them be fed raw meat.Most of the Lions (or their descendant) come from the MGM Grand Lion Habitat that closed in 2011, leaving them with no place to go. You can upgrade to a private guided tour and get behind-the-scenes special treatment from the trailers.
Who you will meet: Everyone, especially Men on Tinder.

Drink with Local Legends at the Golden Tiki
3939 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89102 (MAP)
While barely even 6 months old, the Golden Tiki is becoming the place where local legends of Vegas come to chat it up and relive the last amazing few decades. Owned by legendary raver producer, and local self-proclaimed  “weirdo” Branden Powers, this bar is so strange and unique that Eater Las Vegas’ Editor Susan Stapleton called it “the most interesting bar in Las Vegas.” Whatever is happening there, it’s full of secrets that everyone from a sexy limo driver named Gonzo Jenny to local columnist Corey Levitan comes there to unload the contents of their day.
Who you will meet: Long time locals sharing where bodies are buried.

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Special: Raiders and Raiders’ Fans Are Invading Vegas?

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Special: Raiders and Raiders’ Fans Are Invading Vegas?

According to those “in the know” that follow the Silver and Black Nation, Raiders’ owner Mark Davis is very much committed to moving the Oakland Raiders outside of California to Las Vegas. He is meeting with County and State officials this Thursday in Las Vegas, where the main topic of conversation is funding of a Stadium to be used for the Raiders. Jason Cole of BleacherReport, tweeted that “#Raiders owner Mark Davis not only supposed to attend Thurs mtg in Vegas. Source said he’ll pledge to move team there if financing approved.”

While people have questioned moving a NFL team to Las Vegas, because of our connection to gambling, as Matt Youmans, a sports reporter for the LVRJ pointed out, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hadn’t “slammed the door” on the conversation.

One thing that is making this exciting prospect a reality is Las Vegas Sands Corporation looking into building one of the most expensive domed stadium projects in America ever considered. This means that if Sands and taxpayers commit to this stadium, it would be for sure place for the Raiders to play. David has already visited UNLV to see if he can use Sam Boyd Stadium until a new place was built. Davis has been considering the Raiders as a possibility for Vegas for as long as November 2015, when records show he personally registered the domain LasVegasRaiders.com in order to secure it from possible cyber-squatters.

Mark Davis committed at least $9.95 to Register LasVegasRaiders.com
Mark Davis committed at least $9.95 to Register LasVegasRaiders.com

Not everyone thinks the Raider’s are a safe bet to Las Vegas, partially because of their fan base, which is seen often as the “most dangerous” in the nation. Writer Elias Trejo, a lifetime Raider’s fan described a non-fans dangerous encounter when attending a home game.

A couple directly above me was wearing Charger blue. The regular trash talking commenced from the Raider fans and it started off as playful. Then, as the game progressed, the talking became more threatening.

The husband was trying his best to ignore it, but the wife was visibly scared. It was around the third quarter when it became too much to handle and the couple left. I felt bad for that couple because they had traveled from Arizona to watch the game.

Yardbarker, a sports website, seems to be however supporting the idea that the Raiders are indeed coming to Las Vegas, and a deal is gaining steam, and why that idea is more and more plausible:

The Raiders don’t currently have a legitimate stadium to call their home. Yes, they play in the Coliseum in Oakland, but the dump of a stadium recently lost sponsorship when Overstock pulled out, and it’s nothing more than a temporary solution.

Oakland has been playing hardball with Davis and the Raiders for years about working with the franchise to build a new stadium. At this point, it’s looking more and more like such an arrangement simply isn’t feasible.

Meanwhile, Davis has a very attractive situation developing in one of the biggest tourist destinations in the United States. And it’s becoming quite clear that this isn’t just a pipe dream, either.

What do you think? Why did Overstock pull out and leave a mess all over the fans? Comment below:

Five Much Better Alternatives to Starbucks in Las Vegas

Staff
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Five Much Better Alternatives to Starbucks in Las Vegas

When you are in the middle of nowhere, and there isn’t frankly a decent coffee or espresso place anywhere, there’s almost always a Starbucks somewhere. However, while the espresso at Starbucks won’t kill you, their pre-made, heated up fast food sandwiches are just plain nasty and who knows what they really contain. There are much better places in Las Vegas for coffee, espresso, breakfast sandwiches and a much better ambiance that doesn’t have people yelling made-up cup sizes. Vegas has a very strong coffee culture, mainly because people here work at all hours including tens of thousands of people who don’t get off work until the early morning.

Thus we have some of the best coffee shops that can make both locals and tourists happy.

1) Sambalatte at the Monte Carlo. Known for their unique flavors including a Soy Nutella Latte, Sambalatte has been a Vegas favorite for locals in their Boca Park location. If you aren’t a fan of coffee you might still be a fan of their extensive foam artwork that includes rainbow colors. Additionally, it’s a little oasis on the strip that can be a nice place to get away. MUST TRY: Nutella Latte & Not Your Grandmother’s Hot Chocolate

2) Madhouse Coffee. A favorite of the more sophisticated locals, the sandwiches here make Starbucks look like soup kitchen fare. They have all the blended drinks you could want, but with better coffee and much smarter baristas. Features Intelligentsia Coffee, which is a Chicago favorite and just starting to make its way onto the West Coast. MUST TRY: Mad Cow Hazelnut Latte and Pasquale Sandwitch

3) Seranade Coffee Bar and Deserts. This Korean Coffee and Desert Shop is a hit amongst Asian high school students during the day, and late night locals who really need caffeine. If you’re into Korean music, it’s definitely the place to go, but also an amazing hang out place with a nice little patio. While their coffee is good, they are known for their amazing deserts including their Honey Toast, that is considered by many to be the best in Vegas. MUST TRY: Pistachio Latte and Honey Toast

4) Rosalie Le French Café This delightful French styled café hasn’t been open a year, but it’s already a favorite for those who love amazing pastries. With its custom interior that features repurposed wood and metals, crafted by the owner Jonathan Pluvinet, it’s a unique place on the west side. Just a few blocks away from one of the busiest Starbucks on the West-side, it’s in a perfect position for those wanting to switch from junk pastries to some of the best in Las Vegas. MUST TRY: Rasperry White Chocolate Latte and Almond Croissants.

5) Holley’s Cuppa. Owned by Holley Steely, a cirque du soleil performer, they concentrate on making the best coffee in Las Vegas. They grind everything on the spot when the coffee is ordered and use the “pour over method” which makes the most flavorful coffee you’ll have in Las Vegas. Holley’s only uses fair trade, sustainable coffee beans, making this a good place for those a little more socially conscious. MUST TRY: Heart of Darkness Coffee & Muffin Tops

You can see all the locations on this map

Elton John Sings Tribute to Prince at Caesars

Staff
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Elton John Sings Tribute to Prince at Caesars

Elton John’s tribute songs have become famous, especially his “Candle in the Wind” rendition that was for Princess Diana during her funeral in 1997. Yet again, Elton shows us why he is the best at these types of songs.

At his packed show at Caesars this weekend, he spent some time sharing memories about Prince when they were both in Las Vegas. He said he would see each other in the hotel lobby, share a few minutes together when Prince would be getting back from the clubs, and Elton would be starting his days.

“You were a purple warrior. We loved you. We salute you,” he said, before breaking into his song “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” as a slideshow of Prince images played on the stage.

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