LAS VEGAS
There are no words in any language that could describe my love of Las Vegas. Ever since my first visit at 15, one where I couldn’t even do anything expected of Vegas, I’ve been hooked on its energy and flashiness. Countless trips later, and I’m still mesmerized by this place.
I’m obsessed with the fact there’s no logical reason this city should exist. Built by the mob, in a place largely uninhabitable it was destined for insanity.
On my last trip over Thanksgiving, I finally convinced the friends I was traveling with to head to Circus Circus to have a look around. For some reason that can be a hard sell, as this is known to be one of the bleakest spots on the strip. One man’s bleak is another man’s elation.
One of my favorite things to do in Vegas is to walk down Antique Alley. The antique and vintage culture in Vegas is the best there is and I won’t be told otherwise. My dream is to live in an old casino, I fear.
Other notables in the area aside from the antique stores, Good Pie claims to have the best pizza in Nevada and after trying some for myself I have no choice but to believe them. Grandma style pizza, garlic knots, and a Dr. Pepper. You’re welcome.
Before headed to a reservation time at the nearby Zak Bagans Haunted Museum, I induldged in an iced Mexican Spiced Latte from Makers & Finders that I still think about. This was, by all accounts, the perfect afternoon.
Another Vegas classic and an essential in my book is Atomic Liquor. This was the first (legal) bar in Vegas, with a liquor license number of 1. When it first opened, this was a place you could drink and observe the atomic testing from afar. I would say a safe distance, but absolutely nothing seems safe about that. Anyway, you can still drink here.
After walking Fremont Street and weaving in and out of the Old Vegas casinos, I had an inspired thought I haven’t been able to shake.
I need to travel the country and photograph casino carpets. That’s all.
To wrap this trip, on the drive back to LA we stopped at the haunted Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, NV. This is another claim of being the oldest bar in Southern Nevada but perhaps less official than Atomic Liquors. The Pioneer Saloon dates back to 1913 and has the ghosts to keep it feeling that way.
While we only had space for a quick beer after hitting a buffet on the strip, the experience was more than we could have ever asked for considering we ran into Billy Tolley from Ghost Adventures having lunch with some friends. He couldn’t have been nicer and offered to take a pic with us. Even better is that this location was on an episode of Ghost Adventures, so being star struck in a haunted location was not on my bingo card and I loved it.
Claiming now that I have to go to Vegas at least once a year, every calendar year. At least. Preferably more. Shit, should I move there? Wait it’s 120 degrees never mind. The visits will have to do.
