Stories by Las Vegas Weekly Staff

Features

Best Public Art That Licks You: Snowball in Vegas by Jesse Carson Smigel

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Smigel conceptualized his sculpture as a photo op, its face all goofy pleasure while giving a tongue-bath to anyone who gets close.

Features

Readers' Choice—Best Pet Friendly Patio: Lazy Dog

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Because pets are people, too.

Princesses of Vulgarity, from left, Cornelius Von Lickteinstein, Carmella Nougat, Coco Marzipan, and Chum Brulee pose during the Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival at Sunset Park Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013.

Features

Readers' Choice—Best Park: Sunset Park

Thursday, July 16, 2015

A park to rule them all.

Javier Sanchez’s memorable Forty-Three Days 43 Names showed at Barrick Museum.

Features

Artist of the Moment: Javier Sanchez

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Working in neon, bullet casings, video or dried Xempatzuchitl flowers, he sends a much-needed message.

Shoppers and workers make their way along the walkways during the Grand Opening of Downtown Summerlin on Thursday, October 9, 2014.

Features

Best Place to Shop All Day: Downtown Summerlin

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Packed with amazing amenities and really damn big.

Guests attend the Recent Acquisitions Exhibition at Marjorie Barrick Museum on June 19, 2015.

Features

Best Space to See Art: Barrick Museum

Thursday, July 16, 2015

It has become the sweet spot for contemporary art in town.

Features

Best New (Old) Band: Bee Master

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The indie-rock outfit returned in 2015 with a debut LP five years in the making and some fiery live sets.

Sin City Sinners can rock your ass and raise money for worthy causes, all at the same time.

Features

Readers' Choice—Best Cover Band: Sin City Sinners

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The self-proclaimed “Rat Pack of Rock ’n’ Roll” can turn out the vote.

Features

Best New Brewery: CraftHaus

Thursday, July 16, 2015

There's a lot to love about the Henderson Booze District operation.

A London Fog served at PublicUs in Downtown Las Vegas.

Dining

Best New Coffeehouse: PublicUs

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The coffee at this Downtown spot is out of this world.

Features

Best Bartender’s Bartender: Becky Sabin at Peppermill

Thursday, July 16, 2015

"She works graveyard, and in a weird way she’s kind of like a housemother to the service-industry people who come in."

Robert Plant, one of Brooklyn Bowl’s best recent gets.

Features

Best Concert Calendar: Brooklyn Bowl

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Jurassic 5, Modest Mouse, Lucinda Williams, Trey Anastasio, The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Morning Jacket are riding in on the next wave.

Teens enjoy a wave pool at the Cowbunga Bay water park in Henderson Monday, July 14, 2014.

Features

Best Heat-Beating Thrill: Wild Surf at Cowabunga Bay

Thursday, July 16, 2015

You’ll lose count of how many times you’ll scream.

Features

Best New Hip-Hop/Jazz Combo: The Lique

Thursday, July 16, 2015

MC Rasar Amani commands the room with a rare blend of lyrical hypnotism and suited-up comedy.

Features

Best Selfie Spot: High Roller

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Selfie like nobody’s business.

Features

Best Place to Buy Vintage Couture: Patina

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Custom dresses and pieces by such designers as Alfred Shaheen and Lilli Diamond.

Features

Best Dive: Huntridge Tavern

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Because the drinks are so cheap they're nearly free.

Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper hits a double against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 10, 2015, in Washington, D.C.

Features

Best Pro Athlete: Bryce Harper

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The Washington Nationals outfielder is proving worthy of his hype.

Next time you find yourself near Bartolotta, try the spaghetti with Sardinian bottarga.

Dining

Best Place to Blow Minds and Wallets (Fish Division): Bartolotta

Thursday, July 16, 2015

When price is no object, head to Wynn's Italian seafood palace.

From family-friendly films to a raunchy web series, the Thompsons have a colorful body of work.

Features

Most Versatile Filmmakers: Jerry & Mike Thompson

Thursday, July 16, 2015

They've directed Popovich, The Voice of the Fabled American West and more.

Bazaar Meat’s Tortilla Sacromonte incorporates off-the-wall animal parts like kidney, sweetbreads and bone marrow.

Dining

Best Place to Blow Minds and Wallets (Meat Division): Bazaar Meat

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Bazaar Meat is a modern celebration of Vegas-style eating.

Features

Readers' Choice—Best Happy Hour: Lucky’s Lounge

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Not one. Not two. THREE happy hours!

Black Cod Saikoyaki, center, with Salt and Pepper Prawns, lower left, and Tako Carpaccio at Inyo Asian Variety, 6000 W. Spring Mountain Rd., Sunday, March 15, 2015.

Dining

Best Chinatown Restaurant You Haven’t Tried: Inyo Asian Variety

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Best kushiyaki in town? Probably.

Dining

Readers' Choice—Best Burger: In-N-Out

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Double-double, please.

Vegenation’s Save the Tuna roll has purple forbidden rice, avocado, cucumber, red pepper, wasabi aioli and ginger-carrot purée.

Dining

Best Vegan Food: VegeNation

Thursday, July 16, 2015

You won't miss the meat.

Further Future took us—and our ears—farther out.

Features

Best Music Festival: Further Future

Thursday, July 16, 2015

A remarkably underground artist and DJ curation, a noteworthy slate of forward-thinking speakers and a mindfulness/wellness program that’s not just tacked on.

Features

Best New Place to Drink Downtown: Hop Nuts Brewing

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Main Street scored another great spot for sipping suds with the new brewery.

This breakfast burrito is a good idea any time of day.

Dining

Best Breakfast Burrito to Eat All Day Every Day: On-the-Go Breakfast Wrap at Krayvings

Thursday, July 16, 2015

It's packed with flavor and it's under $6.

Features

Best Locals Bar: Velveteen Rabbit

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The Downtown Las Vegas space, Velveteen Rabbit, changes its cocktail menu every season.

Dining

Best Late-Night Dining: Casa di Amore

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Where else can you get mussels marinara until 5 a.m.?

Gold standard: With Bound, revered mixologist Salvatore Calabrese raises the bar.

Features

Best New Cocktails on the Strip: Bound

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The Cromwell spot features cocktails by celebrity mixologist Salvatore Calabrese.

Features

Readers' Choice: Best Hotel Pool: Mandalay Bay

Thursday, July 16, 2015

A sandy beach in the middle of the desert.

Features

Best Way to Drink All Day: PT’s & Sierra Gold

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Get your marathon crawl on!

José Andrés expands his dim sum expertise with delicious dumplings at Ku Noodle.

Dining

Best Casino Noodle Bar: Ku Noodle

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Don't skip José Andrés’ tribute to Asian comfort food.

Downtown’s new bookstore will soon offer children’s writing workshops.

Features

Best Literary Hangout: The Writer’s Block

Thursday, July 16, 2015

A most excellent place to get your book on.

Features

Best Author: Laura McBride

Thursday, July 16, 2015

'We Are Called to Rise' is the CSN professor's first novel.

Features

Best Reason to Stay Inside: 11th Street Records

Thursday, July 16, 2015

A time-tested cure for whatever might ail you.

Mercy Music released first album When I Die, I’m Taking You With Me last October.

Features

Band to Bet On: Mercy Music

Thursday, July 16, 2015

If unrelenting performances, intelligent lyrics and addictive melodies count for anything, Mercy Music will break big at some point, and deservedly so.