Take a moment and read my tribute to seedy, scruffy Downtown Las Vegas that appears in the Travel section of today’s Los Angeles Times.
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The one exception to the scruffiness in my mind is the Golden Nugget. When I was there Election Night 2004 and the following day, Tony Bennett was performing and the rooms were better than some of the ones I had stayed in on the Strip.
I would imagine that the two things that have influenced the development of the Strip is the increase in the convention business with the new convention center and the competition from some of the gambling venues throughout the country. BTW, Marc, where can one get a good meal downtown?
Best meal downtown: Binion’s Steak House (one of the best places in all of Vegas). Hugo’s Cellar in the Four Queens. The buffet or the steak house at Main Street Station.
$39 a night! Very nice. Either I get that deal or I stay in Viktoria’s vacation rental Vegas house rent-free while covering the Nevada presidential caucuses.
Thanks for letting me know I have a little bit of leverage with the Russian princess!
The few times I went to Vegas as a kid, grandpa insisted on heading over to Freemont. He hated gambling at the high-watt casinos on the strip. He loved the folksiness (and alcoholic stupor?) that meant laughs and stories while people gambled. I think it reminded him of his days gambling during WWII. Smoke-filled rooms, manly grunts, and good times. And as a kid, Freemont always felt a little more my size. As some one who hates the Strip, I always enjoy your columns that explore the hidden parts of Vegas.
Marc:
I only agree with you half the time but on Downtown I agree with you 100%. I spent fours years of an impressionable youth working at the Golden Nugget and saw it go from the Old West to the marble emporium.
The strip used to offer some value the same as downtown but not anymore.
Good times.
Just have to agree with you totally on this one. After having lived in Vegas for 10 years and just recently moved farther North — 5 months ago, outside of Reno, which is also small and I love…small vs a vs Fremont Street Area…vs “the strip in Vegas”…
I was always THE most comfortable on Fremont for most of the reasons you mentioned in your article, that you gave the link too…and thanks for the link.
My largest Fav about Fremont the last few years were the “sound stages they built”and that was only in the past 2 -3 years…incredible music by rather well know artists, to be enjoyed in the outdoors right on the street, ie Dr. John, who I saw live for the last time before hand in New Orleans, etc…as music is first to be me, even before politics…not to mention that Fremont is a paved, rather enclosed and very clean and somewhat trendy area, for what it is…where it is located.
My only bummer was the food, though the places you mentioned in your article are GOOD, the overall ability to eat well downtown is/was an honest downside for me…very limited.
But on the other hand, Dowtown Fremont Street is the best for sure — always won there while gambling…slots…absolutely, and my favorite …the crap table.
December 3rd, 2006 at 10:17 am
The one exception to the scruffiness in my mind is the Golden Nugget. When I was there Election Night 2004 and the following day, Tony Bennett was performing and the rooms were better than some of the ones I had stayed in on the Strip.
I would imagine that the two things that have influenced the development of the Strip is the increase in the convention business with the new convention center and the competition from some of the gambling venues throughout the country. BTW, Marc, where can one get a good meal downtown?
December 3rd, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Good opening line.
December 3rd, 2006 at 2:21 pm
The Nugget glitters! And has just been remodeled.
Best meal downtown: Binion’s Steak House (one of the best places in all of Vegas). Hugo’s Cellar in the Four Queens. The buffet or the steak house at Main Street Station.
All great.
December 3rd, 2006 at 4:42 pm
$39 a night! Very nice. Either I get that deal or I stay in Viktoria’s vacation rental Vegas house rent-free while covering the Nevada presidential caucuses.
Thanks for letting me know I have a little bit of leverage with the Russian princess!
December 4th, 2006 at 10:21 am
The few times I went to Vegas as a kid, grandpa insisted on heading over to Freemont. He hated gambling at the high-watt casinos on the strip. He loved the folksiness (and alcoholic stupor?) that meant laughs and stories while people gambled. I think it reminded him of his days gambling during WWII. Smoke-filled rooms, manly grunts, and good times. And as a kid, Freemont always felt a little more my size. As some one who hates the Strip, I always enjoy your columns that explore the hidden parts of Vegas.
December 4th, 2006 at 11:16 am
I like Mayor Goodman’s proposed “Mob Musuem”. Dare I hope one of the exhibits will be “Vegas’ Greatest Hits?”
December 4th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
Marc:
I only agree with you half the time but on Downtown I agree with you 100%. I spent fours years of an impressionable youth working at the Golden Nugget and saw it go from the Old West to the marble emporium.
The strip used to offer some value the same as downtown but not anymore.
Good times.
December 4th, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Marc…..
Just have to agree with you totally on this one. After having lived in Vegas for 10 years and just recently moved farther North — 5 months ago, outside of Reno, which is also small and I love…small vs a vs Fremont Street Area…vs “the strip in Vegas”…
I was always THE most comfortable on Fremont for most of the reasons you mentioned in your article, that you gave the link too…and thanks for the link.
My largest Fav about Fremont the last few years were the “sound stages they built”and that was only in the past 2 -3 years…incredible music by rather well know artists, to be enjoyed in the outdoors right on the street, ie Dr. John, who I saw live for the last time before hand in New Orleans, etc…as music is first to be me, even before politics…not to mention that Fremont is a paved, rather enclosed and very clean and somewhat trendy area, for what it is…where it is located.
My only bummer was the food, though the places you mentioned in your article are GOOD, the overall ability to eat well downtown is/was an honest downside for me…very limited.
But on the other hand, Dowtown Fremont Street is the best for sure — always won there while gambling…slots…absolutely, and my favorite …the crap table.
Thanks for a very good article.