City Cast Las Vegas

It’s the end of a cold and rainy week here in Las Vegas, so today we’re cozying up to the week’s news with drinks in hand (it’s the end of Booze Week over here at CCLV, after all). Producer Layla Muhammad and co-host Dayvid Figler are joined by Jonah Gibbs, mixologist at Esther's Kitchen downtown — Jonah is whipping up a cocktail for each of our news items today: DTLV’s questionable new marketing campaign, the return of Helldorado Days, and the controversy surrounding Kyle Rittenhouse’s now-cancelled event at a gun convention, ShotShow, at the Venetian.Having trouble keeping up with all the Las Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on social media! Follow us and tell us how much you love or hate the rain @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. (We love voicemails!)

Happy hour is a sacred time. Whether it’s an excuse to leave work early, or after a long shift, it’s not hard to find a restaurant or bar in Vegas that will cater to your discounted drink needs. Today, on Day 3 of City Cast Las Vegas’ Booze Week, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Vogue Robinson pull up a chair with lead producer and foodie Sonja Cho Swanson to tell you where to find the best happy hour deals and how the concept of “happy hour” even started.CCLV happy hour picks:Tenaya Creek BreweryHop Nuts Brewing Cheesecake Factory Sammy's Woodfired PizzaYU-OR-MI Sushi BarHerbs and Rye Starboard Tack Izakaya Go McMullan's Irish PubEcho and RigListener picks:The Golden TikiFireRock SteakhousePub 365The MartiniThe LocalSickie’s GarageLindo MichoacánJapaneiroThe Pepper ClubHola Cocina and CantinaBJ’sShuck’sThank you to listeners Taylor, Keri, Kimiko, Mariann, Summer, Manuel, Daysie and Jannah for sharing your faves with us!Are we missing your favorite happy hour? Let us know in a voicemail at 702-514-0719. You can also join the conversation on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.Looking for more places to try and things to do in Vegas? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

It’s Booze Week over here at CCLV — but for a lot of you, it’s also Dry January. So what’s a Las Vegan to drink when they’re not drinking, for whatever reason? Artist Kim Miller knows first-hand what it’s like to start a sober journey in our booze-friendly town, and started the blog Sober in Vegas to help others on their journeys, too. Today, co-host Vogue Robinson chats with Kim about the best non-alcoholic drinks in town, her starter guide for the sober-curious, and why going alcohol-free is more accessible than ever in Las Vegas.For more resources, be sure to check out Kim's list here.We want to hear about your favorite happy hours! Are they sober friendly? Let us know by leaving a voicemail at 702-514-0719.You can also shout at us on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! 

One hundred and three years ago today, Prohibition became the law of the land. To no one’s surprise, mobsters found a way around it, and speakeasies were born. During a visit to The Underground, the Mob Museum’s Director of Education Claire White tells co-host Vogue Robinson about 1920s Vegas speakeasies, women bootleggers, and how no ban was going to keep Vegas from its vices. Mix your favorite drink and listen along!Do you have a favorite hidden bar in Vegas? Let us know how to get in on our socials — we’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.You can also leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719. Don’t worry, we’ll only share it with all our listeners. On the search for more hidden Vegas spots? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! 

It’s Friday, y’all! And today, lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by newsletter editor Scott Dickensheets and guest Joey Lovato, multimedia editor at the Nevada Independent. We get into some of the week's capital-D drama: the uproar over Derek Carr’s departure from the Raiders; Michele Fiore’s last (or is it?) fight in Las Vegas before she gets judgey in Pahrump; and, in light of this week's cascading flight delays, what would we do with six hours to kill at Harry Reid International?If you could keep ONE of the following in Las Vegas, which would it be: Derek Carr, Michele Fiore, or your next flight leaving on time? Let us know: Leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719, or hit us up on social media! We’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.For all the news that’s fit to email, get yourself signed up for our daily newsletter. It’s chock full of current events, smart commentary, and what to do with your precious free time. Sign up at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

Kristine Johnson, a new resident and colleague at City Cast, shares her firsthand experiences adjusting to life in Las Vegas. She dives into the quirks of local pronunciation, the job market, and whether you can thrive without a car. The hosts discuss the challenges of navigating extreme heat and explore the city's unique political landscape. Kristine also uncovers ways to build community and friendships in a city known for its transient lifestyle, along with tips for enjoying social events.

At the time it was built in 1971, The Plaza Hotel was the biggest casino in the world. But now, Las Vegas looks very different from the seventies when the property was at its peak. So has The Plaza escaped the fate of implosion like other older casinos? CEO Jonathan Jossel joins co-host Dayvid Figler to talk through new developments at The Plaza and how the iconic casino has been able to stay relevant.Where else do you see bits of old school Vegas? Let us know your favorite places on socials @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.Our morning newsletter has all the old school Vegas fun facts! Make sure to sign up at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! 

The Consumer Electronics Show is considered the most influential technology trade show in the world — and it's taken place in Las Vegas for 25 years now. CES 2023 brought in over 100,000 attendees this past weekend, showcasing the newest and most innovative tech from around the world. Most locals just know it's going to be a busy weekend, but producer Layla Muhammad steps inside Vegas’ biggest convention to see what all the hype is about. From the coolest new tech to her disappointment in the Vegas Loop, she gives co-host Vogue Robinson the full download.For more explainers and insider tips, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! What Las Vegas events and conventions would you like an inside look at? Let us know by call or text at 702-514-0719.We’re also on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. 

Deaths in Southern Nevada’s homeless population spiked in 2021 — but it wasn’t because of COVID, reporter Michael Lyle tells us. In today’s episode, lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with Michael to talk about why so many unhoused people are dying in our city, why so few of those deaths were due to COVID, and what the real causes say about the precarity of life on the streets in Las Vegas. Make sure to read Michael’s article in the Nevada Current, published today.What are your ideas for solving homelessness in Las Vegas? Hit us up on social media @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719.For even more Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter, fresh-baked and hot out of the inbox at 6 a.m. every morning, at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

In our first Friday news roundup of 2023, co-host Vogue Robinson sits down with producers Sonja Cho Swanson and Layla Muhammad to discuss the $3.2 billion worth of highly anticipated construction projects supposedly being completed this year and which ones we'd abandon, celebrate, or implode (hypothetically speaking, of course). Plus, we talk about why Frontier Airlines donated free flights for those adopting kittens from The Animal Foundation, and we read some of your responses to newsletter editor Scott Dickensheets’ question, “Do locals hate the name 'Sin City?'”Special thanks to newsletter readers Matt Jacob, Christy Clayton, Tami Belt, Jen Mujica, and Patty Johnson for sharing their thoughts with us.Don’t miss out on Scott’s next query for Vegas locals! Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter. Do you think Vegas needs a new nickname? If so, we want to hear your ideas! Let us know on social media @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. You can also leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719.