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City Cast Las Vegas

Keep It Local

Keep It Local by City Cast Las Vegas features spotlights on local businesses we love and personal, curated, and neighborly recommendations that will help you live your best Las Vegas life right now. So, if you’re ready to ditch the national chains, e-commerce giants, and big box stores,

sign up now for the new weekly newsletter from City Cast Las Vegas, written by Melinda Sheckells.

Sign up for Keep It Local from City Cast Las Vegas

Melinda Sheckells

When the sidewalk feels like a stovetop, even aggressive, jacket-prompting air conditioning can qualify as a welcome amenity. These attractions and businesses offer four very different ways to be cool and stay cool.

, beating the heat begins beneath a circular stream of water. Japanese-inspired treatments combine scalp analysis and cleansing with massage, water therapy, and targeted care for dryness, inflammation, and damaged or thinning hair. Spend 60 to 90 minutes reclined in an appropriately air-conditioned room while the rest of Las Vegas avoids touching anything made of metal.

Enter an air-conditioned fairy tale and see whether you can find your way out at 

. The family-run Las Vegas escape room has four immersive adventures — Arabian Nights, Once Upon a Time, Neverland, and 7 Dwarfs — all inspired by familiar stories. Each room was handmade by the family and filled with puzzles, riddles, hidden compartments and clues that require considerably more teamwork than deciding where to eat dinner.

Nevada miners did not have central air, but they did have one advantage over the rest of us: They worked underground. Approximately 45 minutes from Las Vegas, the Techatticup Mine in Nelson offers a naturally cool and breezy escape beneath 

. The guided walking tour follows roughly a quarter-mile of gravel passageways while sharing stories from Southern Nevada’s oldest and richest gold-mining district. Learn how miners worked by candlelight, handled explosives, and extracted gold and silver under conditions that make modern workplace complaints feel slightly less urgent.

 The tour lasts 80 minutes, providing enough time underground to briefly forget that your car is baking in the desert outside. Book the 9 a.m. tour, wear closed-toe walking shoes and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. The mine may be cool, but the surrounding property is not.

, dairy-free frozen treats inspired by Philadelphia water ice. Its 

 ranges from cherry, mango, and strawberry lemonade to Cotton Candy, Strawberry FreezeCake, Henny Lemonade, and Sin City. Owner Chase Corbin built the business through pop-ups and community events before opening its brick-and-mortar shop in the Arts District.

, an all-ages hip-hop dance party and community block party on Saturday, Aug. 1 from 5 to 11 p.m. The event brings music, dancing, and Cold Summer Concert Series energy to the Arts District. Admission is $10, and children 12 and younger enter free.

When the sidewalk feels like a stovetop, escape the heat and support local businesses at that same time. 

Cool Ways to Escape Summer Weather in Las Vegas

Four Ways to Beat the Heat 

, there is one unexpected sign of summer — smaller puddles.

During cooler months, guests sometimes step into the 48-degree cold plunge and climb out before completing the full cycle, sending water over the sides of the tub. As temperatures climb past 110 degrees, more people are staying submerged.

“The puddles around the cold plunge are a lot smaller than they have been in this heat,” says Breanna Berryhill, general manager of Pause Studio Las Vegas. “People are definitely getting in there and submerging for their full cycles.”

Cold plunging involves voluntarily lowering your body into very cold water and remaining there while every instinct tells you to get out. The first few seconds can feel particularly intense.

At Pause, the plunge is paired with an infrared sauna inside one of four private contrast-therapy rooms. Guests can spend up to nine minutes in the sauna, as long as three minutes in the 48-degree water and then three minutes resting before repeating the cycle during a 30- or 60-minute session.

“While you’re sitting in the cold plunge, really stare at that sauna and get ready for it,” Berryhill says. “It’s mental, but physically you just feel incredible.”

Cold-water immersion has become a social media spectacle, an athletic recovery ritual and, increasingly, a mainstream wellness practice. Studies suggest cold-water immersion may temporarily reduce muscle soreness and perceived fatigue after strenuous activity as well as inflammation.

At Pause, the reasons for plunging are less complicated. Guests arrive after golfing, hiking, exercising, working a long shift or spending hours walking the Strip.

“You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from cold therapy,” Berryhill says. “Whether you’ve been hiking, golfing, walking the Strip or just navigating this Vegas heat, the cold plunge therapy is an important part of overall wellness.”

The goal is not to prove who can endure the coldest water or remain submerged the longest. Beginners can start gradually, pay attention to how their bodies respond, and step out when necessary.

And while 48-degree water may sound irresistible during an extreme heat warning, a plunge is not a treatment for heat illness or a substitute for hydration, shade, and medical care when needed. It is a deliberate and highly desirable encounter with the cold that we just can’t get anywhere else right now.

Las Vegas has spent generations teaching people how to embrace extremes. When the temperature outside reaches 115 degrees, choosing to sit in 48-degree water may be one of the city’s more logical propositions.

Discover why extreme heat makes guests stay submerged longer in 48-degree water during contrast therapy sessions at Pause Studio Las Vegas.

Cold Plunging at Pause Studio in Las Vegas

The 48-Degree Escape From Las Vegas Heat

The scene is set with a little strategy, a lot of conversation, and depending on the table, wine, cocktails, or a prize on the line. These local gatherings make it easy to learn mahjong

and meet people who won’t mind explaining it again … and again.

 co-owner Cheryl Daro grew up in families where mahjong appeared at every gathering. Their monthly social turns those traditions into an all-ages afternoon of Hong Kong-style instruction, open play, music, giveaways, and tournaments. Admission is $25 and the proceeds support local charities. Organizers volunteer their time, The Space donates the venue, and 

 The next social begins at 3 p.m. July 26 at 3460 Cavaretta Court. Lessons come first, followed by open play and tournament rounds at 4 p.m. Sets are provided. 

 teaches American mahjong to players ranging from teenagers to octogenarians, including her 17-year-old daughter and 82-year-old mother-in-law. Her private 2.5-hour lessons cover the tiles and everything you need to know: the Charleston, joker swaps, pungs, kongs, and beginner strategy. She brings lessons and open play to Ada’s Wine Bar in the Arts District on Aug. 27. Open play costs $50; the beginner class costs $75. Both include sommelier-selected wines, beer, and mocktails.

 The event runs 6-8 p.m. Beginners should book one of eight instructional seats; 32 open-play seats are available for experienced players. 

 to offer free Sunday play and instruction. The group primarily teaches Vegas Mahjong, its variation on Hong Kong-style play, but American, Filipino, and Japanese riichi players are also welcome to join. August sessions include 

 Beginner instruction starts 15 minutes after each session begins, so arrive early. No registration is required—just walk in.

The fastest-growing version of mahjong in Las Vegas is Japanese riichi. The 

 is a gathering place for riichi players, hosting meetups and welcoming newcomers interested in the strategy-heavy style that has exploded in popularity thanks to anime, online gaming, and international competition.

 The Dragons host the first-ever Riichi Mahjong invitational in Las Vegas September 5-6, 2026. Log in to gamer friendly platform 

 for all the behind the scenes action on this community.

Discover the best local spots to learn and play mahjong in Las Vegas. Join fun community socials, beginner lessons, and open-play events today!

Best Mahjong Classes & Socials in Las Vegas | Where to Play

Four Places to Make Your Move in Mahjong

For Shauna Bruckman, mahjong has never been just a game.

She originally learned to play from her grandmother. Later, while living in Chicago with a new baby, a weekly game became her moms’ night out; a few hours to see friends, concentrate on something beyond household responsibilities, and feel like herself again.

When Bruckman moved to Las Vegas 14 years ago, mahjong helped her build another community. A Facebook post showing someone else’s winning hand led to a regular Monday-night game, new friendships, and eventually a business. She launched 

 in September 2025 and within approximately six months, she has taught more than 200 people by leading private lessons, corporate events. and restaurant gatherings all around town.

The demand becomes visible whenever Bruckman carries her tiles into a restaurant. Her first 

 event drew 24 players. The second expanded to 40. The next gathering at the Summerlin restaurant is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 31.

On Saturday, Aug. 1, she will celebrate International Mahjong Day with a 3:30 p.m. 

 in Henderson, where the café’s photogenic vibes will share the spotlight with racks of colorful tiles.

Bruckman teaches American mahjong according to National Mah Jongg League rules. Players use the league’s annual National Mahjongg League (NMJL) card of winning hands and complete the Charleston, an organized sequence of tile passes unique to the American game.

“It used to be a grandma game,” Bruckman says. “It’s not your grandma’s game anymore.”

Designer sets, brightly colored tiles, themed mats, and decorative racks have certainly helped modernize the game’s image. Bruckman has found sets covered in hummingbirds, beach scenes, and even Grateful Dead imagery. She is still searching for a true Las Vegas edition.

Four players sit at one table, focus on the same game, and interact without any screens between them. Some groups become intensely strategic. Others spend so much time talking that they forget whose turn it is.

“You don’t think about the laundry you have to do or the grocery shopping,” Bruckman says. “You’re in the moment.”

Bruckman plans to begin hosting events in her new studio space in September. It is outfitted with two tables and will offer lessons, open play, private parties, and social activities.

More importantly, it will solve one of the first obstacles confronting a new player: finding three other people who know the game. At Bruckman’s studio, beginners will be able to arrive alone, learn together, and leave with the beginnings of their own table.

That may be mahjong’s best move: turning strangers into regulars, one tile at a time.

Meet Shauna Bruckman, the founder of Las Vegas Mahjong. Discover how she is modernizing the game through local lessons, events, and a new studio space.

How Las Vegas Mahjong is Creating a New Community of Players

The Woman Building Las Vegas’ Mahjong Community

No passport or Air France flight required (even when it’s direct service from Harry Reid to Charles de Gaulle 

). From French wines and Riviera-inspired pastries to high-speed supercars and one of the city’s oldest parks, these local businesses reveal the French flavors, personalities, and unexpected influences woven into Las Vegas history.

 found a fitting home in Las Vegas, a city built on life in the fast lane. A professional stunt driver who worked on “The Bourne Identity,” Thievin co-founded Exotics Racing before merging it with SpeedVegas in 2021. Today, he serves as CEO and co-owner of 

, where aspiring drivers can take Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and other supercars around a closed racetrack with professional instruction.

 A driver’s license is required to get behind the wheel, but no prior racing experience is necessary. Professional instructors ride along and coach you through every lap.

is bringing a taste of the French Riviera to neighborhoods across Las Vegas. Its bakeries serve breads, croissants, viennoiseries, sandwiches, quiches, macarons, and pastries — including the namesake tarte tropézienne, a sugar-topped brioche filled with cream that originated in Saint-Tropez. Now, they are preparing to expand downtown inside the former André’s restaurant, where chef André Rochat helped introduce Las Vegas to fine French dining.

 Watch for its forthcoming location at 401 S. Sixth St. The historic building has been empty since André’s closed in 2008.

A trip through France’s wine regions doesn’t require leaving Summerlin. At 

, chef Richard Terzaghi pairs escargots, mussels and fries, steak tartare, and duck magret with a wine list that travels from the Rhône Valley to Bordeaux and Burgundy. Start with a Famille Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, explore grand cru bottles from Clos de Vougeot, or splurge on the 2005 Château Beychevelle, a fourth-growth Bordeaux from Saint-Julien. Born to a French mother and Italian father, Terzaghi serves the kind of bistro dishes made for sharing over a bottle.

, when select bottles of wine are 50% off. Start with a Côtes du Rhône and escargot, Terzaghi’s recommended pairing.

Long before Las Vegas had its own Eiffel Tower, French immigrant David G. Lorenzi dreamed of growing grapes in the desert. Lorenzi purchased 80 acres west of Downtown in 1912 and drilled an abundant artesian well. The vineyard never materialized, but the water allowed him to create two lakes and open Lorenzi’s Lake Park in 1926. After later operating as Twin Lakes Lodge, the property was purchased by the city in 1965 and became 

 Walk around the park’s twin lakes, bring lunch for a lakeside picnic, or take advantage of the playgrounds and basketball courts. 

also hosts community performances and special events throughout the year.

Explore the French influences woven into Las Vegas history. Discover local businesses, Riviera-inspired pastries, and hidden Parisian parks in the desert.

French Las Vegas: Hidden Parisian History & Flavors

Four Places Worth Saying Oui To

One of the most impressive productions in Las Vegas doesn’t require a theater or stage; it takes shape with sugar, vanilla beans, cocoa butter, fruit purees, and heavy cream inside an industrial kitchen in the Arts District.

 turns chocolate into dragons, motorcycles, animals, architectural landmarks, and objects so convincing that millions of viewers wait for proof they are edible.

in Las Vegas in 2019, a few years before 

 made him a Netflix star. Today, he has millions of social media followers watching every pour, carve, and carefully engineered chocolate reveal.

 is a serious French technique. Guichon studied pastry in France, apprenticed at Maison Lenôtre in Paris, and later worked in Paris and Las Vegas. The academy transforms that experience into an intensive seven-week program covering pastry, plated desserts, chocolate, ice cream, bread, candy, and chocolate showpieces. Students learn the techniques behind Guichon’s gravity-defying creations while developing original desserts of their own.

This is not the place to wander in for a croissant. The Pastry Academy is a professional training school for aspiring chefs, culinary professionals, and serious pastry enthusiasts. Its presence has quietly made Las Vegas an international destination for French pastry education.

The Eiffel Tower may be made of steel, but Guichon’s Las Vegas creations are considerably more delicious.

Discover how world-famous pastry chef Amaury Guichon creates mind-bending edible chocolate sculptures in his Las Vegas Arts District kitchen.

Inside Amaury Guichon’s Las Vegas Chocolate Art Studio

When Vive le France Meets Viva Las Vegas

Before everyone rushes off to dive into a pool of sprinkles, here are a few locally owned spots to add to your summer list. From the classic neighborhood scoop shops and rolled innovations to flavor profiles beyond your wildest dreams, these creamy creators make Las Vegas a sweet place.

When Drew Belcher, Kevin Whelan, and Timothy Dang opened 

, they built the kind of ice cream shop they wanted to visit themselves. Sinfully delish small-batch flavors, an irreverent attitude, and bold social media presence keep the masses lining up, whether it's for Campfire S'mores, Ube Honeycomb, Bumbleberry Cheesecake Crumble, or whatever the team dreams up next.

 across the valley and even two in Southern California, whenever the craving hits, you won’t be sorry or very far from sweet victory.

, ordering ice cream comes with front-row seat theatrics. Based on a Thai-style technique, fresh cream is poured onto a frozen steel plate, mixed to order, and rolled by hand into delicate spirals. All the bases are homemade and customizable, and the croissant-waffle hybrid, 

, sells out daily, so it's best to plan indulgence accordingly.

Don’t miss the 10% off QR code on their 

 opened in 2009 in response to the lack of quality “ice” in the valley. Now, they are known for their 40 exotic, handcrafted snowcone flavors, including Pickle Juice, Cucumber Melon, the Silver Fox, Wedding Cake, and many more. Their 

shop and walk-up window are a year-round mainstay, as is the Red Bull Snowcone.

 Instagram account is good for a laugh — who knew snowcone humor could be so entertaining — and it doubles as a resource for the special events happening on Water Street.

You aren’t really livin’ unless you’ve had Creamberry's 

, scoops of ice cream inside freshly spun cotton candy, on a 110+-degree day. This viral confectionery mashup created by 

 at the Rainbow Blvd. boutique dessert studio isn’t just meant to be eaten — it is meant to thrill your feed.

Four Licks Worth the Brain Freeze

The soundtrack of summer used to be easy to identify. You'd hear it long before you saw it: a tinny version of 

 drifting through the neighborhood as kids emptied piggy banks and sprinted toward the curb.

Long before gourmet ice cream became a thing, America had the ice cream truck.

And tucked inside an unassuming warehouse just north of Downtown Las Vegas is the place that helps keep that tradition alive.

 sits along North Las Vegas Boulevard, just down the street from 

, one of Nevada's oldest family-owned dairies. Since the 1940s, Anderson has supplied Southern Nevada with milk, butter, ice cream, and other dairy products, helping establish this part of the city as a hub for refrigerated warehouses and food distribution.

Today, Flavors is part of that legacy. The warehouse is where many of Southern Nevada's independent ice cream truck operators stock up before making their rounds, filling freezers with Bomb Pops, Strawberry Shortcake bars, Chocolate Éclair bars, Drumsticks, Screwballs, character pops, paletas, ice cream sandwiches, and dozens of other frozen treats that have become part of the American summer. Unlike most wholesalers, Flavors also welcomes the public to walk in and buy.

Rows of freezers are stocked with brands you probably haven’t seen in years, making it a nostalgia trip back to a time when birthday parties, neighborhood barbecues, and summer memories all began in the freezer aisle.

On this quiet industrial stretch of road, the city's original “viral” ice cream history lives on, not in a museum, but in the cold treats that continue to stock neighborhood trucks across the valley.

The Ice Cream Man Cometh

What they don't expect is that just beyond the showroom, Shelby vehicles are still being built. In fact, it is the 

only traditional automobile manufacturer in Nevada

Located a few miles south of the Strip, the Heritage Center tells the story of the racer, entrepreneur, and automotive icon whose name became synonymous with American performance. Inside, Cobras, Mustangs, race cars, and rare prototypes trace 

 and one of the most influential figures in automotive history.

The Heritage Center opened in 2013, bringing Shelby's longtime ties to Las Vegas under one roof. Visitors can explore the collection for free before stepping behind the scenes to watch modern Shelby vehicles move through production just feet away.

For many enthusiasts, that's the biggest surprise. Most automotive museums celebrate the past. The Shelby Heritage Center is one of the few places where history and manufacturing coexist.

Shelby's story also feels uniquely at home in Las Vegas — both are built on reinvention. After health issues ended his racing career, Shelby became a designer, manufacturer, and businessman, creating some of the most recognizable performance vehicles in American history.

"What I wanted to do was build an automobile," Shelby once said.

More than a decade after opening, the Heritage Center continues to attract visitors from around the world — some for the cars, others for the history. Either way, they leave with a deeper appreciation for one of the most influential American brands ever built, right here in Southern Nevada.

Visit the only traditional car manufacturer in Nevada. See rare Cobras, Mustangs, and live builds just minutes south of the Las Vegas Strip.

Carroll Shelby Heritage Center Guide | Las Vegas Car Museum

The Las Vegas Garage Keeping an American Legend Alive

You don't need to visit Washington, D.C., to find a little Americana. Around Las Vegas, it's hiding in slices of pie, racks of vintage Western memorabilia, smoked brisket, and boxes of baseball cards. So whether you’re celebrating America’s 250th birthday or just in the mood to support local businesses, here are a few valley spots showing off their red, white, and blue.

For owner Andrea McLean, pie is a way of life. Her online Las Vegas bakery, 

, specializes in handmade sweet and savory pies, from rotating fruit varieties to chicken pot pie and other comfort-food favorites. 

, and voila, you will be feasting on one of the best apple crumbs to ever cross your lips.

 The menu changes frequently, so don't get too attached to any one flavor. And order the whip, you won’t regret it.

BBQ on Main Street, there’s nothing more Americana than that. 

 most popular gathering places, drawing crowds for Central Texas-style barbecue, live music, and one of the city's liveliest patios. On weekends, locals spill into the outdoor space, making it feel less like a restaurant and more like a neighborhood party.

 If brisket is your goal, don't wait until the end of the night.

 has been a downtown fixture for decades. Dozens of vendors sell everything from vintage advertising signs and Western memorabilia to old photographs, collectibles, and pieces of Las Vegas history. One booth might hold midcentury kitchenware while the next is stacked with rodeo buckles and Americana straight off a 

 Head to the back of the store and dig through the crates. That's often where you'll uncover the real finds.

Long before fantasy sports, sports betting apps, and advanced analytics, there were baseball cards. At 

 in Spring Valley, collectors come searching for rookie cards, signed memorabilia, and the players they grew up watching. The independently owned shop has built a loyal following among hobbyists who appreciate both the inventory and the camaraderie. Whether you're rebuilding a childhood collection or chasing the next great prospect, it's a reminder that one of America's oldest hobbies is still going strong.

 They host trade nights, game nights, and more for collectors. Check their

Celebrate America's 250th with a Vegas twist. Uncover hidden Americana gems hiding in vintage shops, classic pie slices, and local BBQ joints today!