City Cast Las Vegas

A couple of weeks ago, The College of Southern Nevada’s mariachi team, Mariachi Plata, became back-to-back winners at the biggest college mariachi competition in the country. They’ve only been around for three years, so how did they reach the top so fast? Mariachi Plata’s co-director, Fernando Gonzalez, and one of his students, Debbie Carrillo, tell co-host Vogue Robinson about their championship story.Don’t miss Mariachi Plata’s annual concert on Wednesday, December 7th at 7 p.m., in the Horn Theatre on CSN’s East Cheyenne campus! More details here.What do you love about mariachi? Planning to go to the concert on the 7th? Call or text us at 702-514-0719, or tweet at us on the ol’ bird app: @CityCastVegas Don’t forget, we have an amazing morning newsletter, freshly-baked in your inboxes every morning at 6 a.m. Sign up at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

Hello, sweet, sweet Friday. We’re back in your feeds with a roundup of the week’s news. Vogue, Davyid & Scott start things off with some BIG news for Nevada: President Biden has announced he’ll approve the designation of Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument! That’s right, a protected area for night skies, nature, and the sacred Spirit Mountain, right in our backyard. Then it’s onto a tough conversation about a lawsuit that the mother brought against CCSD after her son was brutally attacked on a school bus — and how privacy laws have tied the school district’s hands. And last but not least, a Very Important Sandwich Debate: Should we call a sandwich a “sammie,” a “sando,” a “sammich,” or (gasp) a “sarno?”Scott has strong feelings, and we get into it.Want to weigh in on the proper name for a sandwich? Are you excited to visit Avi Kwa Ame? Let us know by leaving us a voicemail or a texting us at 702-514-0719. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastVegas.Psst — by the way, do your inbox a favor and sign up for our amazing morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter, if you haven’t already.

If you love good food, Chinatown is THE happening neighborhood in Las Vegas right now, says Lorraine Blanco Moss. Lorraine is not only a producer at KNPR and host of the podcast Exit Spring Mountain, she’s also a professional chef who’s cooked in high-end kitchens on the Strip — so you’re going to want all of her insider knowledge on where to eat and what to order in Chinatown. Today, Vogue gets all the deets on where industry folks hang out, how to spot good dim sum, and why you shouldn’t always trust the Yelp reviews.Where do you love to eat in Chinatown? Got any parking tips for us? Leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719, or hit us up on Twitter @CityCastVegas.Bring the party to your inbox every morning at 6am: Make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!And last but not least, here’s the list of Chinatown restaurants that Lorraine mentioned in today’s episode. We created a handy Google Map with all the restaurants for you, too! Edo Gastro Tapas & Wine Phở Kim Long J Karaoke Sushi House Goyemon Orchids Garden Xiao Long Dumplings Partage Sparrow & Wolf Half Bird Take It Easy Roasters

As people find themselves with more downtime around the holidays, the age old question presents itself: what do we watch? Luckily, there is no shortage of movies that are about, set in, or mention our city. So what makes a Vegas movie and which ones are worth watching? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with cinephile, poet, and professor Gregory Crosby to debate which Vegas movies should make your watchlist and which ones miss the mark.Our (non-exhaustive) Vegas movie watchlist:The Hangover TrilogyHoneymoon in Vegas (1992)Viva Las Vegas (1964)Casino (1995)The Night Stalker (1972)Hacks (TV)Fright Night (2011)Queen of Diamonds (1991)One from the Heart (1981)Con Air (1997)Leaving Las Vegas (1995)Lost in America (1985)Blade Runner 2049 (2017)Army of the Dead (2021)Damnation Alley (1977)Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)Diamonds Are Forever (1971)Showgirls (1995)Did your favorite Vegas movie make the list? What did we miss? Keep the conversation going on Twitter @CityCastVegas or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719.Want more Vegas news, guides, and fun facts? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! 

Decades after his passing, mid-century architect Paul Revere Williams is finally getting his due: He was the first Black certified architect west of the Mississippi, the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects, and the first to receive the AIA’s Gold Medal, its highest honor, posthumously in 2017. Despite the prejudices of the era, Williams became known as an architect to the stars, building homes for celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant — and in the 1930s to the 70s, left his mark on Nevada’s cityscapes, too.Today, Dayvid sits down with Nevada Museum of Art curator Carmen Beals to talk about Paul Revere Williams’ Las Vegas legacy. Be sure to check out their upcoming exhibit at the Nevada State Museum, featuring photos of Williams’ iconic Nevada buildings by photographer Janna Ireland, which opens on December 3rd.Do you have any memories of La Concha Inn, the Guardian Angel Cathedral, or other Paul Revere Williams buildings in Las Vegas? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail or a text message at 702-514-0719 or find us on Twitter @CityCastVegas.For more Vegas history, happenings and hot takes, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

Like many Las Vegans, the beloved sandwich shop Capriotti’s wasn’t born in this town — but they made Las Vegas their home. Since moving their headquarters to Las Vegas, Capriotti’s has integrated themselves into the community so much so that some think they did start here! Today, co-host Dayvid Figler chats with Chief Operating Officer David Bloom about their famous “Thanksgiving in a Sandwich,” why Butterball raises a line of turkeys just for them (it’s called the “Capriotti’s Super Tom”), and the secret sauce that makes Capriotti’s a Vegas fave.What are you doing with your Thanksgiving leftovers? Let us know on Twitter @CityCastVegas!You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

It’s not the weekend, but it’s also kinda the weekend — so we’ve got a special roundup episode of our short but not uneventful week! Today, Sonja, Layla and Dayvid look back at a pivotal moment in Vegas history, when the Mirage opened 33 years ago this week, a massive gamble as the Strip’s first mega-resort. Plus: What’s going to happen to the Mirage’s volcano — and would we get to keep it if they made it sexy like the TI pirate show?Next, we look at Gov. Sisolak’s newest NV Supreme Court nomination: Patricia Lee, and what makes her nomination surprising. Last, we chat about our Thanksgiving plans, why Dayvid’s involves a turkey costume, why Sonja’s involves barbecue, and why Layla plans on doing no cooking whatsoever (shout out to her sisters).What do you think should be done with the Mirage volcano? Have you seen the crosswalk turkey downtown? Let us know by leaving us a text or a voicemail at 702-514-0719, or send a tweet our way @CityCastVegas (if you’re still on the bird app).For even more Vegas news, happenings, and fun commentary, you’ll want to sign up for Hey Las Vegas!, our morning newsletter, at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter. Trust, it’s the best thing in your inbox at 6 a.m.

On Thanksgiving in 1966, Howard Hughes arrived in Las Vegas in the dead of night on a secret train from Boston. The billionaire businessman, aviator, and movie producer was highly eccentric and at this point in his life had little to no communication with the outside world. As he secluded himself on the 9th floor of the Desert Inn hotel, he began to reshape the future of Las Vegas by buying up casinos and land. But what attracted him to Las Vegas in the first place? Co-host Vogue Robinson sits down with Geoff Schumacher, author of Howard Hughes: Power, Paranoia, and Palace Intrigue, to discuss the impact Hughes had on our city, and what his reclusive life in Las Vegas looked like.Don't miss Geoff's talk at the Clark County Library on Thursday, December 1st at 7 p.m. He'll explain the mysterious "Mormon Will" that supposedly gave a massive share of Hughes' fortune to a complete stranger — and you'll hear Geoff's take on whether the will was real or not.Where do you see Howard Hughes’ footprint around the city? Let us know on Twitter @CityCastVegas or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719.Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

Las Vegas is a food town. From the high-end restaurants to the gas station taco stands, there are almost too many places to explore and take your family and friends when they visit for the holidays. To make it a little easier for you, co-host Vogue Robinson sits down with artist and food critic Brent Holmes to get the best spots that might get overshadowed by the glitz and glam of fine dining on The Strip. They also dive in to what makes the Vegas food scene so delicious … and underrated. Whether you’re in the mood for soul food fusion or a parking lot taco, you’re in for a treat.Places mentioned in this episode: Weiss DeliBagel CafeBurritos Guisos de el CaneloBirrieria Los RojosYEN Viet KitchenSoul Foo YoungAroma Latin American CocinaBrent’s write-up about Burritos Guisos de el Canelo: https://knpr.org/desert-companion/2021-11/eat-now-wet-burrito-burritos-guisos-de-el-caneloWant more Vegas news? We've got you covered! Sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletterAnd while you’re at it, follow us on Twitter @CityCastVegas Is there a hidden food gem we didn’t mention? Let us know by sending us a text or leaving a voicemail: 702-514-0719.

Producer Layla Muhammad jumps into the host seat to welcome co-host Dayvid Figler and friend of the pod reporter Michael “MJ” Lyle of the Nevada Current to the roundup of Las Vegas’ last week. We start with the new Governor-elect Joe Lombardo’s first public address since winning the election. In a “tight 10” minute speech, he hit his priorities, the top of which was “education.”  The speech was overshadowed, however, by what wasn’t in the room - specifically reporters from publications who had arguably been critical of the Governor-elect Lombardo in the past. Then, we shift gears and talk about the unveiling this week of a $125,000 dollar bronze statue of former (and living) Mayor Oscar B. Goodman. Finally, we move on to things that make us happy this week/holiday traditions.Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastVegas You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.