Thursday, September 12, 2013

Downtown Las Vegas - Neon & Mafia!


TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Downtown Las Vegas, NV

What?!  I’m writing about a location outside of my beloved California?!  Everyone knows about the Strip!  It’s legendary but I’d like to talk about 2 fun attractions in the Downtown area. 

Neon Grave Yard - 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas, NV

I loved this!  I think it’s because I love taking photos so much.  We went at the perfect time, (right around sunset).  The office building is historic in its self, it’s the old La Conche hotel.  The building is like a retro piece of art. 

The tour took about 1 ½ hours and as you work your way through retired Vegas signs you will recognize many of them.  They have them displayed in a way that each sign is able to show its own character.  You will learn about neon, how it’s made, how it has changed through the years and finely you’ll hear how LCD lights have taken over the strip.  Walking through the grave yard you really appreciate the art of neon.  You will learn about signs that rose high, high, high above the strip, and other signs that claim the title of some of the 1st neon on the strip. 

The reason why I encourage you to take this tour at Sunset is because the majority of the signs are not lit.  However, they do have a handful that have been restored!  So as you turn a corner you may see its beautiful color inviting you to notice it while appreciating the workmanship of neon.  I feel if you go earlier in the day, you’ll get great photos of the non-working signs, but the ones that light up will not catch your attention as much.  If you go on a tour when it’s dark, you’ll get great photos of the restored signs, but you’ll find the majority of the signs lit only by side lights.

As your driving down Las Vegas Blvd, you’ll find vintage neon signs in the center median, those are pieces that the Neon Graveyard have restored and have returned them to light up the streets of Vegas again.

The parking for the Neon Graveyard is free, and it’s just across a non-busy neighborhood street.  The admission was only $18 per person and it was well worth it for this history buff!





Las Vegas Mob Museum – 300 Stewart Ave, Las Vegas, NV

We went to the Mob Museum with some friends.  One of our friends is passionate about the Mob and their history, so going with him made it extra fun!  The museum is located downtown in the original courthouse where many of the legendary Vegas Mob trials were held!  Parking was free and for $19.95 per person we enjoyed a good 2 hours of hands on history of the Mob.

You start on the bottom floor you will learn how the Mob got started in the US.  Right away you’ll find that all of the displays are fun to work your way through.  Each floor has plenty of the places to interact.  On the 1st floor they had an area that we could go stand in a “line up”.  As you work your way up to the next floor, you sit in the actual court room that has been restored.  There you experience an audio visual re-enactment of some of the trials that took place there.  Once you exit the room you are surrounded by the glory days of the Mafia.  The glamour and glitz of the life style.  Here you will find several opportunities to interact with the displays.  I enjoyed going over to a display of dinner plates that when prompted, each plate represents the different cities and the Mob Bosses in those cities with a list of some of the static of each city and their clan.  Finely, on the 3rd floor you see the not so glamorous side of the Mafia’s life.  You’ll learn that a violent life lived, usually ends in a violent ending.  The final media room will show you clips of Mafia movie’s through the years and display some of the costumes and props used.

What museum or attraction doesn’t have a gift store!  This was a great gift store sure to meet all of your Mob needs!  Again, this museum is awesome.  There is something about the Mob Museum set in a City that has a rich Mafia history that makes it even more intriguing!


 

We ended our Downtown experience on Fremont Street.  Since I had learned at the Neon Museum, that several of the vintage pieces were lighting up the street, along with the LCD canopy covering the whole street, I was anxious to find the waving cowboy and cowgirl! 

OK, LET ME START WITH THIS…..I could care a less about the sleazy part of Vegas!  The gambling, the sex, partying, etc, I just enjoy all of the lights, shopping, shows and history!  With that said….the downtown area encompasses the MOST sleezy part of Vegas I’ve seen!  For starters, the parking is NOT free, (like it is on the strip).  As your walking Fremont Street, you’ll notice that the people there just seem to have a little more of a “worn” look to them!  You’ll also see more sleaze walking around, and it’s crowded!

Needless-to-say, this was a quick stop.  We stayed long enough to watch the LCD canopy show, (while looking up in the crowd, I was sure to pull my purse in tight!)  We quickly photographed the iconic neon signs and visited some of the historic hotels in that area and then we got the heck out of there!  It was such a dirty, creepy, place! 



Sugar Factory American Brasserie – Paris Casino/Hotel

Who would have thought that one would be happy to get back to the Strip?!  I know that this piece was on the downtown attractions, but I do need to share a fun place to eat with you!  The Sugar Restaurant.  Its located on the outside of Paris Casino/Hotel.  You will not believe the candy store!  It was so fun!  Here is the novel part of the store…..it has a restaurant!  As you might imagine, the alcoholic drinks were all “cute” and popular, the desserts look like pieces of art, but it’s the meal selections that caught my eye!  I had the Sugar Factory Signature Burger!  It was HUGE!  The novel part of the cheeseburger?!  The bun was made from white chocolate!  It was delicious!  It actually reminded me of the Hawaiian rolls, with just a little sweeter taste.

So is it possible to appreciate “Sin City” without sinning?!  I say yes!  By enjoying the Neon Graveyard and the Mob Museum!

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