Monthly Archives: July 2011

Food Trucks Invade Downtown: East Fremont

July 10, 2011

Every second Saturday starting at 6pm downtown, off Fremont Street East, there is a street party going on featuring Las Vegas’ high end food trucks called Vegas StrEATS. It is a food festival bringing in upscale food trucks to the downtown area with a very unique blend of food, music and art.

The Vegas StrEATS festival opens at 6 p.m. and runs until 2 a.m. The food is delicious, affordable and there is no admission charge. Vegas StrEATS is held across the street from the El Cortez Hotel Casino on 6th street. The festival is a mix of Vegas locals, eclectic hipsters, artists and a few downtown tourists. It can take 15 minutes or more to get your food because everything is made to order, but it is well worth the wait. Also, there is nowhere to eat your food once you get it.  They set up 4 cocktail tables, but that wasn’t enough to support the large crowd and there are no benches or even walls to sit on. You can sit on the curb, which is not comfortable or the easiest place to balance a platter of sliders and fries. There were tents with various vendors selling everything from local art to costume jewelry, a DJ and graffiti artists creating works of art for the crowd.

Vegas StrEATS another original, cultural event happening downtown on Fremont East

Engine 1 Pizza, the fire oven is built in the truck

Grouchy John's Coffee

BBQ Boy

SnOw ONO Shave Ice - Real Shave Ice just like you would find in Hawaii.

Philly’s Famous Italian Ices

Curbside Cafe

Slidin’ Thru - these mini burgers are great!

Fukuburger Truck, adds Asian flair to traditional American dishes.

The girls at Fukuburger

Another handmade pie ready for the oven, which is built in the firetruck.

Crowd at Vegas StrEATS

Vegas Food Trucks links:

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Virtual Strip Tour: Caesar’s to Treasure Island (Ti) c.1999

July 9, 2011

Our virtual tour of The Strip in 1999 continues. The following photos are from Flamingo Road heading north to Spring Mountain Road. Most of the hotels in the past we set far back from the street and over the years, have slowly been building closer to the street.

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Paris, Bally’s on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road.

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Caesars Palace’s Famous Fountain. Note: This fountain has been made famous for motorcycle jumping, attemps include:

  • Dec. 31, 1967 – Evel Knievel (failed landing) he spent 29 days in a coma. 
  • Sep. 16, 1980 – Motorcyclist Gary Wells (crashed into a wall after landing).
  • Apr. 15, 1989 – Robbie Knievel -(success) 
  • May 4, 2006 – Mike Metzger set a Guinness World Record with a 125-foot long motorcycle jump that included a back flip(show off) over a fountain at Caesars Palace May 4, 2006 

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In front of Caesar’s Palace, looking north and south on the Strip. The Flamingo Hilton, Bugsy old hang out,located across the street. This lush landscape has been removed and the sidewalks widened.

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Two Gladiators (statues), the most photographed guys in town, beneath Caesars Palace’s sign. (c.1999) long since removed.

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Caesars Palace is located across the street from the famous Flamingo Hotel & Casino.

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The Imperial Palace and O’Shea’s Entrance, Mirage Hotel and Caesars Palace looking north.

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Caesars Palace and the Imperal Palace, Center Strip.

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Caesars Palace and the Imperal Palace, Center Strip.

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Caesars Palace, with the 360° OmniMax Theater, which has been long removed.

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The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, opened January 1, 1992. Harrah’s located across the street.

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The Flaming volcano at the Mirage with Treasure Island in the background and the Venetian Hotel on the right.

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The Mirage Hotel and Casino opened on November 22, 1989. Note: Built by developer Steve Wynn, on the site that was formerly occupied by the Castaways. It cost $630 million in 1989 to build and was financed by the selling of junk bonds by Wall Street’s own Michael Milken. The Mirage was home to the Siegfried & Roy show from 1990-2003. 

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The famous erupting volcano at the Mirage.

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The lagoon in front of the Mirage.

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The Venetian across from the Mirage and TI (Treasure Island)

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The Venetian.

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Las Vegas Newest Mega-Resort in 1999. The Venetian.

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Buccaneer Bay at Treasure Island. Treasure Island was renamed to just TI.

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Downtown: Bars and Lounges in Fremont East

July 8, 2011

In 2002, the city of Las Vegas created an entertainment district in the heart of downtown Las Vegas: Fremont East. The Fremont East District sits adjacent to the popular tourist attraction, the Fremont Street Experience. Fremont East is one of the only areas which is non gaming.

The Fremont East District offers an eclectic mixture of bars, clubs and cafes along Fremont Street from Las Vegas Boulevard to Eighth Street. The district continues one block north of Fremont Street to Ogden Avenue and one block south to Carson Avenue.

In the Fremont East District, you’ll be keeping good company with popular downtown venues such as Azul Tequila, The Beat Coffeehouse, Beauty Bar, The Griffin, Maharaja Hookah Café, Vanguard Lounge, newly opened Insert Coins and (my favorite), the Downtown Cocktail Room (concealed front door entrance and great drinks).

Just a note on parking:

  • Valet at El Cortez on 6th and Ogden
  • Free Parking Garage entrance on 7th between Ogden and Fremont
  • Metered street parking on 6th or 7th street, bring some quarters (free after 8pm)- check times on meters.
  • Parking along Jackie Gaughn Parkway metered credit card or coins.
  • Avoid the over priced parking ($10) next to the Hookah lounge or the parking at the Fremont Experience
Photography by: LasVegas360.com Copyright © 2011

The Griffin - Open Mon-Sat 5pm-4am; also open Sun

Beauty Bar - Open Nightly 9pm-2am

New Bar on East Fremont, Insert Coins Hours: Mon - Fri: 4pm - 4am; Sat: 12pm-6am, also open Sun

Next door to Insert Coins, Vanguard Lounge Mon-Fri: 3pm-2am; Sat 6pm-2am; also open Sun

 

Maharaja Hookah Cafe - (no alcohol is served here)

The Beat Coffeehouse and Records

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New Mayor in Town

July 6, 2011

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman

Las Vegas has a new mayor today, well sort of.  Carolyn Goodman takes over the job that her husband Oscar Goodman held for the past 12 years.  His self proclaimed legacy of being the “happiest mayor in America” fueled by his gin drinking and showgirl entourage caused some Las Vegans to scoff while others thought he was a brilliant PR man for the city.  With those perks what man wouldn’t be happy?

The new mayor is seen as a little more low key than her husband, but maybe as equally unqualified.  These facts did not deter the voters who gave her a 61% victory over her opponent last June.  Carolyn has done some wonderful things for Las Vegas on her own. One of her biggest accomplishments is founding Nevada’s first nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade college preparatory school, The Meadows School. However, Goodman will have to face strong challenges from a city that is still in the thick of the recession with a 12% unemployment rate and more than 80% of its homeowners with mortgages underwater.

Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman

As for the former mayor, opinions vary about his tenure.  Many Las Vegans thought he did a great job promoting the city becoming the best salesman for the brand “Las Vegas”. During his 12 years in office Las Vegans got used to seeing him at nearly every event the city offered from the most mundane to those with national exposure. He was certainly the most visible mayor this city has seen in a long time. He never really acted like a politician, he was more like an ambassador to Las Vegas, but no one can deny that he loves this city.  He fought tirelessly for revitalizing the downtown area and campaigned doggedly for a professional, national sports team for the city.  But still, many had a hard time forgiving his career as mob attorney and didn’t see him as being worthy of the title of mayor.

So an era is over, but Oscar Goodman will not go quietly into retirement. He has been offered a job with the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority and he will go on to promote the city he loves while drinking gin in the company of beautiful showgirls.  What a life!

Some interesting facts on our former mayor:

  • Oscar Goodman is the 20th mayor of Las Vegas
  • His time in office was June 8, 1999- July 5, 2011
  • In 2002, he became a spokesman for Bombay Sapphire Gin
  • He was known as the Mob Mouthpiece during his career as a defense attorney he spent 35 years defending notorious U.S. crime figures, including, Meyer Lansky, Anthony “Tony The Ant” Spilotro and Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal (The last two were portrayed under different names, in the film Casino starring Joe Pesci and Robert DeNiro).
  • In 2004 Goodman renews calls to sue the NFL over the league’s refusal to air Las Vegas advertising during the Super Bowl.
  • Early in 2010 Goodman chastised President Obama for making the statement “when times are tough you don’t go blow a bunch of cash in Vegas.”  He saw this as an attack on the city’s number one industry, gaming.
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Downtown Las Vegas “Glitter Gulch”

July 5, 2011

Fremont Street Experience “Glitter Gulch” (c.1999)
Located in downtown Las Vegas, also know as “Glitter Gulch” or the newly renamed Fremont Street Experience, this four block canopy is actually the largest lighted outdoor sign in the world.

Click on the small thumbnail photos to view the 360° panoramic photos in high definition.  All photos and were taken in summer of 1999

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Plaza Hotel and Casino (originally the Union Plaza) across the street, Las Vegas Club and The Golden Gate (oldest casino in Las Vegas-1906 Located at 1 Fremont St.) with the famous $.99 Shrimp Cocktails.

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The Golden Gate, Golden Goose (Girls of Glitter Gulch- strip club), Las Vegas Club and the Coin Castle.

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The Golden Gate, Golden Goose (Girls of Glitter Gulch), Las Vegas Club and the Coin Castle.

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Sassy Sally’s, Pioneer Club, Horseshoe, and the Golden Nugget.

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Binion’s Horseshoe, home of the World Series of Poker, and the Elegant Golden Nugget. Note: in 2004, the hotel was sold, rename to Binion’s Gambling Hall and Hotel and the rights to the World Series of Poker was sold to Harrah’s.

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The 4 Queens, Fremont, Horseshoe, and the Golden Nugget

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The 4 Queens, Fremont, Horseshoe, and the Golden Nugget

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Downtown Las Vegas in front of the Four Queens and the Fremont

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The 4 Queens, and the Fremont Hotel

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Fitzgerald’s and Shopping

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Western Village and Trader’s Bill

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Las Vegas 360 Panoramic Photos of Las Vegas

July 4, 2011

Click any of the photos for a 360° hi-res view of the Las Vegas Strip.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas historic sign, the beginning of the famous “Strip”, Las Vegas Blvd. South. (c. 1999)

Glass Pool Inn aka The Mirage
The Glass Pool Inn 1950’s style motel on the south end of the Strip, with the coolest swimming pool. Note: The Motel was renamed in 1988 from “The Mirage” when Steve Wynn’s Mirage Hotel Open. Motel and pool was demolished in 2004, only the sign remains. (photo. 1999)

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The Glass Pool Inn and the Mandalay Bay Hotel in the the background. (c. 1999)

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Mandalay Bay (includes a Four Seasons Hotel) and the Luxor Hotel opposite.  Mandalay Bay includes the legendary House of Blues which features nightly entertainment.

Click for Hi-res 360 Photo: The Luxor and Excalibur Hotels
Front Entrance to the Luxor Hotel. Largest pyramid hotel in the world. The Luxor (2,526 rooms) and Excalibur (4000 rooms) Hotels

Click for Hi-Res 360 photoLocated in the front of the Excalibur Hotel & Casino looking at the New York New York Hotel.

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On the pedestrian walkway between the Tropicana and the Excalibur

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Located in front of Tropicana, SE Corner of Las Vegas Blvd. (Strip) and Tropicana Ave.

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Located in front of the MGM Northeast Corner of Las Vegas Blvd.

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Located on the walkway between New York New York and MGM.

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Located in front of New York New York, Northwest corner of Las Vegas Blvd. (Strip) and Tropicana Ave.

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Located on the walkway between NY NY and Excabilar Hotel & Casino.

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Allstar Cafe located next to the MGM Grand Hotel includes GamesWorks, M & M World and Coke Cola Plaza. Note: All Star Cafe, a sports-themed restaurant developed by Andre Agassi and five athlete partners, closed in 2000. Replaced with cheesy-Generica fast-food.

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Monte Carlo Hotel Located next to the New York New York Hotel.

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Monte Carlo Hotel on the Left and Polo Towers (Timeshare on the Right).

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Polo Towers on the East Side with the Boardwalk Hotel & Casino. Note: Boardwalk Hotel & Casino closed in 2006. It was imploded on May 9, 2006 to make way for City Center.

Click to view hi-res 360 photoConstruction of the Aladdin (c.1999) -now Planet Hollywood and the Paris Hotels looking north. The Harley Davidson Cafe is located on this corner, it is the building with the motorcycle crashing through the front entrance. Note: Across the Street, everything was removed and City Center now stands.

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Construction of the Aladdin-aka Planet Hollywood (c.1999) (foreground) and Paris (tower).

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The Bellagio looking across the Lake Look toward Caesars Palace.  Note: Bellagio
opened October 15, 1998. It was the former site of the Dune’s Hotel that operated from May 23, 1955 to January 26, 1993 imploded on November 25, 1997

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Construction of the Aladdin and the Paris Hotels (c. 1999).  Note: The Aladdin opened April 1, 1966 and closed November 25, 1997. The hotel was imploded on April 27, 1998 and reopened on August 18, 2000. On April 17, 2007, the hotel was renovated and renamed to Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

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The Bellaigo Hotel and Casino across the lake.

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Another view of the  Bellaigo Hotel and Casino across the lake.

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Bally’s Hotel and Casino on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road.

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Bally’s Hotel and Casino. Note: Bally’s was formerly the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the casino burned in Las Vegas’ worst fire on November 21, 1980, killing 85 guests and employees. The MGM Grand was sold in 1985 and renamed to Bally’s.

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Barbary Coast (c. 1999) and Bally’s Entrance at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Blvd. Note: The Barbary Coast (March, 1979-February 27, 2007)  The hotel and casino were rebranded as Bill’s Gamblin Hall and Saloon.

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