Tips for Las Vegas: Hipster Edition
February 8, 2014 11:05 AM Subscribe
We'll be going to Las Vegas for a long weekend next week and I'm looking for suggestions that are a little more off the beaten track. Some things I've found on Yelp so far that fit the profile, Drink and Drag bowling, Grouchy John's Coffee Shop, Freakin' Frog.
We got a cheap hotel room at the Treasure Island through Priceline bidding, we're not planning on renting a car but don't mind taking cabs or walking to get around. We already have tickets to see Britney Spears at Planet Hollywood one night.
I've been to Vegas a few times, but my GF has never been before. We enjoy typically hipster-y activities such as thrift stores, fancy beer, kitschy shows, Dolly Parton impersonators, and dive bars. I'm interested in potentially going to a spa for a facial or massage. She's interested in fancy beer and any local breweries or brew pubs.
After reading a New Yorker article about the whole DJ club scene, I'm a little interested in checking out a DJ night at one of the big hotels. Also interested in any other live music venues that are really great.
We got a cheap hotel room at the Treasure Island through Priceline bidding, we're not planning on renting a car but don't mind taking cabs or walking to get around. We already have tickets to see Britney Spears at Planet Hollywood one night.
I've been to Vegas a few times, but my GF has never been before. We enjoy typically hipster-y activities such as thrift stores, fancy beer, kitschy shows, Dolly Parton impersonators, and dive bars. I'm interested in potentially going to a spa for a facial or massage. She's interested in fancy beer and any local breweries or brew pubs.
After reading a New Yorker article about the whole DJ club scene, I'm a little interested in checking out a DJ night at one of the big hotels. Also interested in any other live music venues that are really great.
The Neon Museum, specifically the Boneyard. Fremont and the Old Strip sound like they might be fun for you, too.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 11:15 AM on February 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Jon Mitchell at 11:15 AM on February 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
Rose.rabbit.lie - I'd say more but I think I took an oath of silence :)
posted by zepheria at 12:14 PM on February 8, 2014
posted by zepheria at 12:14 PM on February 8, 2014
Best answer: seconded on pinball hall of fame AND neon museum.
downtown vegas casinos are awesomely old timey.
circus circus may be the world's largest/most surreal dive bar.
The Peppermill--24 hr diner up front, blacklight tiki bar with firepit in the back.
The liberace museum is closed but I think the Cosmopolitan has some of it on display.
Also the National Atomic Testing Museum is in vegas.
Atlas Obscura has you covered.
posted by jennybento at 12:38 PM on February 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
downtown vegas casinos are awesomely old timey.
circus circus may be the world's largest/most surreal dive bar.
The Peppermill--24 hr diner up front, blacklight tiki bar with firepit in the back.
The liberace museum is closed but I think the Cosmopolitan has some of it on display.
Also the National Atomic Testing Museum is in vegas.
Atlas Obscura has you covered.
posted by jennybento at 12:38 PM on February 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
You definitely want to go to the Laundry Room speakeasy on E Fremont St. Text the bartender (who is awesome) to get a reservation-- that's the only way in. 702-701-1466.
posted by egeanin at 3:15 PM on February 8, 2014
posted by egeanin at 3:15 PM on February 8, 2014
Seconding the Pinball HoF. The National Atomic Testing Museum is well-done if you're into science and history.
posted by djb at 5:58 PM on February 8, 2014
posted by djb at 5:58 PM on February 8, 2014
Best answer: I went for Interbike last year and had a ton of fun as a hipster.
As far as thrift stores go, there's a few Savers in that area that I had pretty darn good luck in. I had to buy a spongebob backpack to bring all the extra thrift store clothes home in. The huge one we went to was at 2300 e tropicana, and there's a bus that goes from the strip there.
The neon overhead lights thing on Fremont was cheesy, but I liked the older downtown casinos. They were fun. Plus I won $75 in quarters on a $.25 spin which was pretty awesome. There was some hipster bars in the area as well.
posted by kpht at 7:07 PM on February 8, 2014
As far as thrift stores go, there's a few Savers in that area that I had pretty darn good luck in. I had to buy a spongebob backpack to bring all the extra thrift store clothes home in. The huge one we went to was at 2300 e tropicana, and there's a bus that goes from the strip there.
The neon overhead lights thing on Fremont was cheesy, but I liked the older downtown casinos. They were fun. Plus I won $75 in quarters on a $.25 spin which was pretty awesome. There was some hipster bars in the area as well.
posted by kpht at 7:07 PM on February 8, 2014
Thirding the Pinball Hall of Fame.
If you want a bit of light and kitschy gambling, when I was there in 2011, the MGM still had a mechanical horse racing game Sigma Derby (yelp). It's a lot of fun .
posted by megamanwich at 11:58 AM on February 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you want a bit of light and kitschy gambling, when I was there in 2011, the MGM still had a mechanical horse racing game Sigma Derby (yelp). It's a lot of fun .
posted by megamanwich at 11:58 AM on February 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you want to check out a club, go to Light. It's new and so much fun, not least because it's a partnership with Cirque du Soliel.
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 7:40 AM on February 10, 2014
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 7:40 AM on February 10, 2014
Response by poster: So we really enjoyed the Fremont St. area downtown.
There's a new brewery called Banger Brewing that was a really fun place to hang out. Also thought the container park was really fun.
posted by forkisbetter at 6:22 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
There's a new brewery called Banger Brewing that was a really fun place to hang out. Also thought the container park was really fun.
posted by forkisbetter at 6:22 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by the twistinside at 11:08 AM on February 8, 2014 [3 favorites]