• Las Vegas Downtown Container Park Mantis
    Best of Vegas,  Food,  Travel,  What to do Las Vegas

    What to See, Eat, and Buy: Guide to Container Park

    Nestled in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas is an intimate, unique shopping experience. Container Park, named for the shipping containers that make up some of the structure, is an outdoor mall unlike all others in town. There are no hidden undergarments belonging to a woman named Victoria, no two-lettered Swedish fast fashion, and no blazing subject where Goths can buy a Jack Skellington hoodie. Instead, shoppers can delve into a world of small, local businesses offering wares from fun to funky and everything in between. What to See: The centerpiece of Container Park is the three-story Tree House and Play Zone. This interactive playground was made to entertain both…

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  • afternoon tea las vegas tea and whisk
    Best of Vegas,  Food,  Travel

    5 Outstanding Options for Las Vegas Afternoon Tea

    Tea is wonderful any day and at any time. However, there is something special about the tradition and civility of afternoon tea. It’s a chance to slow down and appreciate the finer things in life. Technically, two of the five places below are not in Las Vegas (they’re in Henderson). But each location has earned its place on this list. Whether you need a breather from the hustle and bustle of the Strip, are in search of a sophisticated activity to complement your afternoon show or are simply looking to relax after indulging in the city’s nightlife, here are some teatime spots that are sure to strike your fancy. Proper-Tea inside The Stove Proper-Tea…

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  • #TheVegasILove,  Art

    Artist Feature: Joel Spencer and Nova May

    In a nondescript warehouse behind the Strip on Harmon Avenue, magic happens. Not the abracadabra kind, but another more exciting sort. Ordinary everyday items are transformed into art. Real, tangible, immersive art. This warehouse is Joel Spencer and Nova May’s home away from home. It’s in this space that the partners in art (and life) create their impressive installations. Conjured from found, discarded, or unwanted materials, the couple conceives and builds fantastical experiences. We’re talking in the office of their commercial endeavor, ArtDepartment.Vegas, where clients can hire the pair to deliver anything from set design to public art, temporary or permanent. They’ve been involved nearly seven years, and have been…

  • Best of Vegas,  Food,  Travel

    Beyond the Experience: Your Fremont Street Day Checklist

    The Fremont Street Experience draws millions of visitors a year, with its LED canopy and classic Las Vegas casinos. But beyond this attraction’s Las Vegas Boulevard border lies a whole other area worthy of exploration. It’s around 11 a.m., the sun is shining, and crowds haven’t flooded the streets yet. Another beautiful Las Vegas day awaits you. Park on Fremont Across the boulevard from The Fremont Street Experience, on the corner, is Park on Fremont, a bar/restaurant. The charming brick-and-wood exterior calls to you, but which seating area will you choose? The front patio offers people-watching opportunities, the back patio is a secluded hideaway with eclectic touches, and the interior…

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  • neon museum, riviera neon sign
    Art,  Best of Vegas,  Travel

    5 Reasons to Visit The Neon Museum

    Before The Neon Museum came along, the Neon Boneyard was just what the name implies– heaps of old neon signs baking in the scorching desert sun. But through the dedication of passionate and resourceful people, it has transformed into a fun, uniquely “Vegas” excursion that adds to the city’s eclectic selection of museums and exhibits. For visitors and locals alike, here are 5 reasons to visit The Neon Museum now. View Vegas History Sin City is not a place known for its appreciation of history. The Strip is littered with new construction planted in the resting place of the many establishments that came before it. This lack of sentimental attachment, luckily...read…

  • Best of Vegas,  Travel

    Must-Visit Vegas: Off-Strip Shopping on Main Street

    While many venture to Vegas for the shows, nightlife and other attractions on or near The Strip, there’s plenty to explore outside of this glitzy region. One such destination is Main Street, between Charleston Boulevard and Wyoming Avenue, which has seen plenty of changes as part of the city’s Downtown renaissance. One thing has remained constant on this straight stretch of road: it continues to offer...read the rest here This post was written for Best of Vegas

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  • Books,  Writing TIps

    Reading: Daughters & Mothers

    This novel was another book club pick, and although it’s almost three times as long as the previous one, I tore through it in half the time. Tayari Jones’ prose forges compelling, realistic characters on a heartbreaking journey toward love in its many forms. The narrative in Silver Sparrow unfolds through the eyes of two teenage girls—Dana and Chaurisse—who have much more in common than they realize. Beyond sharing (unbeknownst to Chaurisse), a father, they also share the real and consuming desire to be seen. This is not a need for attention, but a need to be understood and loved in a way that recognizes who they are as people.…

  • #TheVegasILove,  Food

    Brunch at Griddlecakes: Your Best Beginning

    Its Labor Day weekend, as I write this, and what better time to let you know about my favorite Las Vegas brunch spot than on a holiday weekend. Brunch business has been growing steadily for what seems like a lifetime. This means entries into the market happen on a regular basis. New restaurants that push culinary boundaries and blur the lines of brunch are as popular in Vegas as artisanal locally sourced organic avocado toast is in California. But this post is not about any of those places. This post is about Griddlecakes, part diner, part modern eatery, all delicious. Griddlecakes has two locations on opposing sides of the valley.…

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