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City Cast Las Vegas

Find the best that Las Vegas has to offer.

Sometimes a person just wants to observe the pageantry of modern humanity strolling by — maybe you want to feel less alone, or triangulate your own position in the human parade, or just get judgy about other people’s fashion choices. Here are five places to do it:

🚶🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏾 Fremont Street: 

The second-floor window seats at this Binion’s bar offer a fishbowl view of the cavalcade of human variety — tourists, buskers, every denomination of person in between — that is the Fremont Street Experience.

👩‍🦽🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏿‍♀️ Town Square: 

Hey, you don’t just want to people-watch the tourists — from this grog shop’s patio you have a casual overlook onto the mall’s play area, where families pause for a few minutes between shopping and eating.

Lotta foot traffic here. Buy a coffee, find a bench, and take in the endless parade of international visitors bringing varied fashion and converging languages to the echoing walkways.

🚶🏾🚶🏼🚶🏽‍♀️ Arts District: 

Grab a seat in the boat out front and observe the wide taxonomy of downtown hepcats, hungry suburbanites drawn by the hype for 1228 Main or Good Pie, and hardy tourists looking for a break from the Strip.

Weather permitting, the corner patio of this java joint in the Summerlin-adjacent mega-strip mall should present you with the squires of suburbia as they engage in their natural habits — shopping and walking while scrolling.

There's nothing odd about enjoying the human parade.

5 Great People-Watching Spots in Las Vegas

5 Great People-Watching Spots

Las Vegas' Best

One of the joys and cringes of being a Las Vegan is seeing how your city of global interest is portrayed in the national media. Here are five of our favorite recent stories:

The lefty journal The Baffler devoted much of an issue to our city. Contents include a dismissive take on the “nostalgia-tripping cash grab” of the Punk Rock Museum; a look at the Teamsters-mob relationship in building the city; and an expansive appreciation of sign artist Betty Willis.

‘How Usher Became the New King of Vegas’

 in Las Vegas, like someone who saw the glamorous first hour of ‘Casino’ but not the subsequent stressful two hours of ‘Casino.’ For Usher, Vegas is a place of renewal, a place of rebirth.”

 on a news roundup. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

‘The First Magician on the Vegas Strip’

The New Yorker wrote about Las Vegas more than once this year, whether 

 of “Learning from Las Vegas” or tracking 

 surviving the summer of 2023. But we like this piece about vintage performer Gloria Dea.

The cosmopolitan weekly newsletter Airmail retells the sordid downfall of Sara King, the so-called “slot whisperer” of Las Vegas, who ran through a lot of other people’s money.

‘Sphere can be bizarre and sublime — or just an ad. That’s what makes it so Vegas’

The L.A. Times offers a thinky take on our big orb, and its mingling of the worlds of art, commerce, and spectacle.

With stories from the New Yorker, GQ, the L.A. Times, and more.

Our Favorite Glimpses of Las Vegas in the Media

Our Favorite Glimpses of Vegas in the Media

Supporting local music is a great way to participate in the valley’s cultural life. But where do you go to see it? We asked 

) who coordinates music content for local events site 

“A swanky and impressive venue nestled within an unsuspecting warehouse district just west of the Bellagio and CityCenter,” he says. Check out local bands Pure Sport, The Dollheads, Elevated Undergrounds, and Elephante King on Oct. 7.

“Laid back, roomy venue located next to everyone's favorite East Fremont brunch spot, PublicUs.”

It really is a Fraternal Order of the Eagles joint — and an oft-used venue, Duran-Valle tells us: “This grungy, DIY space in Henderson is popular with punk rockers and hardcore acts. One of the few all-ages spots in town.”

Also in Henderson, part of the burgeoning Water Street district, this venue “focuses on classic rock, blues, and country,” he notes. Check out Heroine Honey and Lennon Roach on Saturday, and Second Echo on Sept. 30.

The original, on Spring Mountain Road, mostly has recurring blues/roots acts, Duran-Valle says — catch local outfits Until the Eclipse on Saturday or The Smokestacks next Tuesday.

To support Southern Nevada bands, here are venues to seek out.

5 Great Places to See Local Music in Las Vegas, Nevada

5 Great Places to See Local Music

Where does the City Cast Las Vegas team take their dogs for some outdoor time? Here are our favorites:

“It just has a really cool community; people will bring folding chairs and sit in a circle, and they'll share water with all the dogs. When I first got Harper, I got a lot of dog tips and advice from them, too.”

 “Just the wide open space of it — it’s good for Pokémon and good space for the dog to run around. (There are three separate dog areas and shaded human seating.) And the people are nice. That's where we take Shaka.”

 “I like this one because it's really shady — there are some really big trees on that property, which is nice.” (Two areas separate small and large dogs. BringFido.com rates it 

Justice Myron Levitt and Jaycee Community Park

 “It's a big ol’ park — we don't have a lot of green spaces downtown — and it’s open from sunrise to sunset, which is very cool. It's got some grass, a little dirt. There's a small dog area, so they have their own little protected place.”

 “This dog park also has a good mix of open space and shade and a really active community of people there. And I think once or twice a year, Desert Breeze will actually open up the pool so you can have a doggy pool play day.” (That day is Saturday, when Desert Breeze hosts 

 Listen to a wide-ranging conversation about the responsibilities of dog ownership.

Click to Listen

Where to give your dog an outdoor adventure.

Five Great Dog Parks in Las Vegas

To be sure, a breakup is probably best handled in private. Stipulated! But maybe there’s a reason to do it in public — to add context to the moment, to avoid infusing bummer vibes into someone’s personal space, to make sure there are witnesses.

So, tongue at least three-quarters in cheek, here are some suggestions:

Might as well finish things with a civilized dinner, letting the slowly revolving view of, well, 

 underscore the importance of looking at the big picture.

This isn’t my idea, it’s Meow Wolf’s — they’ve helpfully compiled a 

 within the trippy attraction that make good breakup locations.

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

 of flowers. The overpowering pleasantness of the place might take the edge off of the moment. And, as a nice last gesture, I think they let you pick the flowers, right? (I should probably fact-check that.)

Say one of both of you have, er, unresolved issues about the just-ended relationship. A roomful of junk you can smash to your broken heart’s content might be just the thing you need to dispel those feelings. (Maybe avoid the adjacent axe-throwing room, however.)

OK, time to get real, courtesy of lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson: “Offer to go on a long walk — at the Pueblo Park trail, perhaps, or a couple loops around Sunset Park — because they’re going to have questions and sorrow and pain. We have to fight the instinct to blast off in an ejection seat. And we should acknowledge our own shortcomings.”

If you must do it in pubic, here are some places

Best Places to Break Up in Las Vegas

to select great public art in a town packed with sophisticated signage, hunks of branding, and even some buildings that practically qualify as sculpture themselves. But let’s try.

This dramatic, organic swirl rises 26 feet from its earthen mound at Siegfried & Roy Park. The artist likens it to a “mysterious atomic love child of dust devils and drones" — forces that speak deeply to this region.

 love this 10-foot-high, tongue-lolling cat, which became a whimsical Arts District icon the minute it was installed in 2014? Didn’t think so. It embodies the neighborhood’s playful, creative vibe.

“Ancestral Gateway,” by Various Artists

This terrific piece is a marvel of positive and negative shapes — which artists Adolfo Gonzalez, Dayo Adelaja, Denise Duarte, and Slyvester Collier took to the next level by positioning it to create intricate shadow-play on the nearby wall. Inventive and just a treat to look at.

One function of public art, especially important in a suburban blahscape like ours, is to add particularity to a neighborhood’s sense of place. This Clark County project achieves that across the valley by covering nondescript utility boxes with work by local artists — 

“Monument to the Simulacrum,” by Stephen Hendee

You needn’t have read the dense French theory the title refers to in order to enjoy this abstracted, planar mountain-shape. Jutting up in a downtown courtyard surrounded by urban buildings, it’s a witty play on the role of artifice in Las Vegas.

Five works that help define the valley's cultural legacy.

Where to See Las Vegas' Best Public Art

Listen to podcast host Dayvid Figler and photographer Mikayla Whitmore discuss the best places to view the Sphere and insider tips for photographing it.

This bold-hearted orb that rules the night* is Las Vegas’ latest must-have experience. Here are some of the best vantage points — not counting an airplane, which I personally can’t wait to see.

Just east of The Sphere, it’s become an unofficial observation area and offers huge, ground-level views.

For a slightly higher view, the top of the parking garage at 3763 Howard Hughes Parkway comes highly touted.

Longer sightlines from this elevated location strikes a nice balance between a sense of up-close gee-whiz and an understanding of The Sphere’s skyline context.

If Manhattan Street is too crowded, it looks like you can get an excellent group-up view from this intersection.

It ain’t good for much otherwise, but this 

A concierge at Wynn Las Vegas tells us that the 18th hole offers a terrific view for daytime duffers, and the balcony at the pro shop is pretty good, too.

*Apologies for the ancient Moody Blues reference; I’m old.

You can see it from almost everywhere. But here are the top views.

The Best Places to View The Sphere in Las Vegas

🪩 The Best Places to View The Sphere

 — you sacrifice no local cred for loving the dancing waters. But it’s not alone; here are some other features of the city meant largely for visitors but embraceable by us:

On the Strip, you’ll walk your damn legs off between interesting sights. On Fremont, it’s all 

 — and it teems with every kind of humanity. And entertainment: The 

 picks up Aug. 19 with Taking Back Sunday.

This immersive exhibit’s frantic discombobulation works on anyone no matter where they hail from. It’s a great backdrop for selfies — but it will also power up your imagination.

Suggested by reader Amanda G., this place sounds like it 

 be Vegas cheese, but is in fact densely packed with crazy-cool occult items, serial killer kitsch, and spooky memorabilia.

“People may be surprised to hear how much fun it is there,” says City Cast Las Vegas producer Layla Muhammad. “We walked up on a DJ and people dancing over there after a Knights game, and it was really fun.”

“Sooooo bad it's great,” City Cast co-host Dayvid Figler says of Sam’s Town’s funky diorama of live trees, waterfall, nature sounds — and laser-eyed animatronic creatures. “Never lets me down when I bring a friend. Even after five minutes of 

There are plenty of treats Las Vegas made for visitors that locals can embrace

Las Vegas Tourist Attractions That Locals Can Love

Tourist Attractions Vegas Locals Can Love

DTLV is a coffee hotspot, and rightfully so — some of the best (and most award-winning) coffee can be found around Fremont and Main. But let’s not overlook the neighborhood cafés, with their plentiful free parking and longer hours (can Downtown please get a coffee shop open after 4 p.m.?). Here are just a few of our far-flung faves.

Gäbi’s “warehouse chic” interior has drawn a dedicated fan base so it can be hard to find seating at peak hours, CCLV co-host Dayvid Figler notes. But their colorful, creative baked goods (rainbow roll cake, ube macarons) are worth the wait. (Chinatown)

“UNLV students and staffers love TIABI!” says CCLV producer Layla Muhammad. Newsletter editor Scott Dickensheets is a fan of their pistachio latte. (University District)

Grouchy John's is a longtime favorite of students, artists, and journalists who need the caffeine and comfy environs to get their creative juices flowing. Dayvid recommends the Evil Monkey, a chai, espresso, and banana blend. (Centennial Hills and Silverado Ranch)

Tru Bru has longtime Vegas food critic John Curtas’ vote: “Tru Bru has the nicest setting, organic coffee, and good food.” Plus, they reheat all pastries in a wood-fired oven so they come out with a warm center and crisp exterior. (Henderson)

Evergreen is a relative newcomer to the southeast valley coffee scene, and recent 

 Terri Galura-Chiong says they have “some terrific specialty coffee drinks with an Asian twist.” She recs the calamansi creamsicle latte; Layla vouches for their gochujang mocha latte and peach cobbler toast. (Henderson)

If you’re heading further afield, writer Krista Diamond says “Dam Roast House is worth the drive to Boulder City. Good food, bright interior, and a small book selection — plus it's always nice to browse the nearby antique shops.” (Boulder City)

And friend of the pod Manny says Aspire isn’t just a destination for coffee, but “it's the only coffee shop I know of that is in the middle of an HOA in a park making use of a building made to sell homes. It’s a communal space in suburbia where your kids can play and you can relax.” (Skye Canyon)

+ Bonus pick: Noted downtowner Dayvid says 

 in Henderson is his "hidden gem outside the Downtown bubble."

The Best Coffee Shops Outside of Downtown

We compiled this list from your responses to a question posed by a reader named Tracy, who wondered what to do with her teenagers. As you’ll see, four of these five are indoors; this would’ve been a much different list had Tracy asked in October.

A Vegas classic that satisfies a teen’s gaming jones while showing them how it was done before screens. “Old school arcade games,” says reader Nancy M. “Tetris, Pac Man, Frogger. Air hockey. Free admission, and games are old-school prices. Most expensive game was 75 cents.”

With its sensory bombardment, subversive humor, and cryptic narrative, this place really zaps a kid’s limbic system. “Go early and on a weekday,” suggests reader Tracy Rodell. “You can avoid most of the crowd and have time to fully explore the area and try to solve some of the puzzles.”

Sometimes, as a teen, you just gotta do something adrenal and utterly 

 — like zipline through a giant video tunnel, right over the heads of tourists. Just warn your kid not to, er, 

Suggested by reader Christy C. The automotive legend Carroll Shelby, played by Matt Damon in “Ford v Ferrari,” set up shop here years ago. His facility houses a terrific free museum to his legacy of speed.

Here you can sample 16 international sodas. “We got two sets for our family of four,” Rodell says. “It created some great comedy moments, and is still remembered almost a decade later by both my kids.”

What can you do with your older children in this adult Disneyland?