so, i tried to search for old threads about this but couldn't find any. does anyone have good suggestions for what to do in vegas toy related or otherwise. good restaurants, bars, stores, etc. thanks.
cool. pinball hall of fame sounds really great i'll also check out that thai spot, as well these are the types of things i'm looking for. keep em coming
Definitely the pinball hall of fame. I'll there for new years and will definitely be spending a few hours there. Tons of machines and all usually in good working order. We had a lot of fun last year doing downtown vegas (hadn't driven over there before) and we always hit up this chinese restaurant next to a Ranch 99 that has surprisingly awesome pho. Wish I could remember the name but it eludes me.
retro liquid fire pit is great! that place definitely looks like one not to miss when its 3am and i'm drunk, hungry and broke. i knew you guys would have some good tips anyone else? this will be my first vegas vacation, but i don't really want to get into all the custie/touristy shit.
I was gonna suggest the Liberace Museum, but it's temporarily closed... It's a wonderful experience in excess. Fitting for a place like Vegas.
I have heard good things about the Neon Museum/Boneyard: http://www.neonmuseum.org/ Haven't had a chance to check it out myself yet though. Also, I recommend some hikes at Red Rock Canyon and while you are up on the West side, check out my favorite restaurant (way off the strip): http://vglasvegas.com/
Definitely check out the Peppermill for food (Flintstone size portions) and drinks - though the addition of TV monitors in lounge detracts from the ambiance. Frankie's Tiki Room is great too. Open 24/7 and it has an amazing jukebox if you like surf, hotrod and Las Vegas Grind-type stuff. The Burlesque museum on Fremont - east of the strip is ok as is the Erotica Museum or whatever-the-hell they call it. There's also a good weekend flea market - can't remember the name of it though. About 10 years ago there was actually a guy from Hawaii selling vintage kaiju (he had some amazing stuff) now it's mostly clothes, tube socks, wigs and crap but there's also a good movie poster guy, weapons dealers (i.e. switchblades, sword-canes, brass knuckles (w/ your choice of "love" or "hate")), lots of fake, super-gaudy jewelry, belt buckles and such (I got a belt buckle there with a flip-out cigarette lighter!). If you don't mind blowing $50.00 in less than 10 seconds, go to the Gun Shop and fire a machine gun. The neon boneyard is cool but it's surrounded by a security fence and closed to the public most of the time unless you go on a guided tour. From the strip, drive east on Fremont Street and check out all the decrepit, jet-age motels with vintage neon signage from Las Vegas's heyday. The juxtaposition of the optimistic hotel names from a bygone era with their present crack-haven reality makes for good photo ops. Best done either early in the morning or after dark (if you want to see the signs lit) - but be careful, Fremont Street can be scary once you get a few blocks east of the strip. There are a couple of decent antique malls around the Charleston BLVD area - nothing spectacular but every once and a while I've found something good. Bowling, for some odd reason, is really big in Las Vegas and thus there are lots of good lanes to try. If you're not from the west coast, In-N-Out Burger and Fat Burger are "musts." There's a zipline running over Fremont street that you can ride at night for a few bucks. I always thought it would be cool to put on a suit and tie, and while holding a brief case, ride it down Fremont Street during the morning commute while letting out an Apache war-cry. But maybe that's just me. There's an art walk around the Charleston art district the second (I think) Saturday night of the month - not a tremendous amount of art to see but a few vendors set up for the event. If you can afford it (tickets are in excess of $100), some of the Cirque Du Soleil shows are definitely worth seeing. That's all I can think of off-the-top-of-my-head. If I remember more, I'll let you know. Have fun!
http://www.happypandatoys.com/ this place had just opened when i went to vegas for a bachelor party around labor day... needless to say, i didn't get a chance to check it out.
thanks everyone! I found one vintage toy store online, but if anyone has specific recs that would be great I'm now super excited to check some of this stuff out
is it only closed temporarily? i was there a few months ago and it looked gone for good. red rock canyon is stunning! if you go, check out the new visitor center my architecture firm designed there. http://www.lineandspace.com/Projects/RRCVC.html#
ichiza — simply the best real japanese food (as well as more contemporary updates), izakaya-style, and the korean bakery next door has the best gombo ppang egg & i — awesome breakfast joint, try their weird but tasty crepe/omelette bastard child the arts factory — a repurposed two floor building now used as local artists' studios & galleries (owners and curators are very friendly and informative), plus one teeny tiny toyshop (happy panda toys, mentioned above) that's literally about the size of a walk-in closet phantom — a jaw dropping production of phantom of the opera, great talent, and practical effects that put hollywood cgi to shame, also doesn't hurt that a bouchon bakery stand is right outside its doors
From the Pinball Hall of Fame. The only redemption in that toilet of a town... Here's a link to their site http://pinballmuseum.org/ Aside from the jaw-dropping array of games in their huge warehouse is the fact that they donate ALL profits to charity, most going to the Salvation Army. This past year alone, Tim donated over half a million dollars to charity. Amazing!!!! His story and the generous employees (donating their time without pay) who work there is nothing short of beauty.
