City Cast Las Vegas

Despite CES, the world’s largest in-person tech event, happening right here in Las Vegas, most locals haven’t ever been inside. It’s kind of a black box of mystery exclusive to the tech industry insiders and media who arrive in droves. Lucky for us, producer Layla Muhammad got a peek inside and sat down with co-host Sarah Lohman to talk about all about the coolest tech she saw and how it could affect Las Vegas. Yes, there are robots. No, she didn’t kick one. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Now that the tire dust has settled, Las Vegas is taking stock of F1’s impact — and some local businesses are asking the city to recoup the millions of dollars they lost. But would the city pay — and not F1? In today’s Friday news roundup, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with contributor Andrew Kiraly, founder of TheList.Vegas, to talk about the winners, losers, and who pays when the races come to town. Next up, the crew discusses that giant Doritos ad on the Luxor, and if any buildings in Vegas are too sacred for advertising. And last, a speculative conversation about what should go on the site of the demolished Fiesta Henderson. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

There’s a new trend sweeping Mexican cuisine, and you can find it right here in Las Vegas. Unlike the mass-produced grocery store tortillas you’ll find at most taco trucks and restaurants, tortillas made by nixtamalization are more pliable, fragrant, and nutritious. Today, we’re bringing back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had with Masazul chef Mariana Alvarado about she’s dedicating her life to bringing nixtamalized corn products to Las Vegas and where you can try them in our city. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The Las Vegas Monorail is, at best, a side-eyed 90s relic for convention-goers; at worst, the butt of jokes and a symbol of our crushed public transit dreams. So how did it even get here, and what derailed our mono-future? Co-host Sarah Lohman talks with writer and monorail enthusiast Eric Duran-Valle about the system’s surprising Disney connection, the issues that plagued it, and why locals should still give the monorail a chance (spoiler: we tell you how to get $2 locals tickets on the cheap). And oh yes, there will be Simpsons references and singing. Read Eric’s lovely essay about the monorail here. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Las Vegas headliner magicians like David Copperfield, Shin Lim, and Criss Angel have all become household names across the U.S. — and just in terms of the number of ticketed shows, Vegas is arguably the magic capital of the world. That’s according to comedian, magician, and podcaster Matt Donnelly, who sits down with co-host Dayvid Figler to talk about the hidden gems in the Vegas magic scene (have you followed the mysterious person in a rabbit mask?) and how our city is changing the magic world. Find more of Matt on his podcast “Matt and Mattingly’s Ice Cream Social,” or the podcast he co-hosts with Penn Jillette, “Penn’s Sunday School.” We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

During one of their last meetings of 2023, city council members voted to purchase The Animal Foundation’s building to increase oversight of the non-profit. This comes after years of complaints over conditions at the overcrowded shelter from residents, animal advocates, and officials. Could this be the year The Animal Foundation turns around, or is the city priming the space for a takeover? Nevada Current reporter Dana Gentry has been covering the operational failures at The Animal Foundation for years. Gentry sits down with co-host Dayvid Figler to explain how funding, leadership, and policies have led animals to suffer in Las Vegas. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The horrible attack on a judge in a Las Vegas courtroom has made headlines around the world — but have you seen the whole video? It tells a slightly different story, and co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down with contributor and Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus to talk about it. They also discuss the new ban on stopping on Strip pedestrian bridges, and the food trends that “need to die” in 2024, according to the Review-Journal’s food critic. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Now that the holiday season has passed, some people are looking for ways to help their minds and bodies recover from the festivities (and maybe even their wallets). One method people try to start their year off right is participating in "dry January". Taking a break from alcohol — or the vice of your choice — can be difficult in a party-forward city like Las Vegas. That’s why our co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down to give you the surprising story behind dry January and how to get it done successfully in a city where the alcohol never stops flowing. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

2024 is here, so we’ve pooled our predictions (from most to least likely) of everything that maybe, kinda, possibly, could happen in Las Vegas this year — and we’re putting it on a Bingo card! Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler compare notes with contributor Brent Holmes: Could A.I. take over the Sphere? Will F1 breach contract? Will the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup again? Make your very own personal 2024 Bingo card here and play along with us all year long — it’s free, you don’t have to make an account, and you miiiiight get a prize at the end of the year. We’re going by the honor system (but we can also see how many cards you’ve made), so stay classy, Vegas! We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

This January, whether you’re looking for new hobbies, new music, or a sense of renewed purpose, Andrew Kiraly from thelist.vegas has some ideas for you. He and co-host Sarah Lohman sit down to talk about the best events and things to do in Las Vegas this month (and spoiler alert: Andrew shares the deets on his favorite hiking trail in the Valley). We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

We’re bringing back our biggest stories of 2023 this week, and nothing quite shook Las Vegas to its hospitality core like the advances in A.I. this year. Both Resorts World and the Cosmopolitan use AI chatbots to answer guest queries about where to go and what to do. The Sphere has an Android greeter, and there’s even a robot bouncer at a Vegas strip club. What’s more: Reports released in December 2023 suggest Las Vegas is the city MOST at risk in the U.S. for an A.I. takeover. But how will AI evolve, and will it take over our city’s legendary hospitality and gaming industry? Geoff Carter, senior editor at the Las Vegas Weekly, did a deep dive into these issues and runs through it with co-host Dayvid Figler in this episode from April. Also, stay until the end. We invite ChatGPT into the conversation, and as A.I. generated headlines might say - it will shock you! Are you worried about AI in Las Vegas? Or excited about it? Let us know what you think by tagging us on social media (we’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram) or leaving us a voicemail or a text at 702-514-0719. Oh, and if you’re not signed up for our brilliant morning newsletter yet… whatcha waiting for? Get on the list for the best thing in your inbox every morning at 6 a.m. — sign up here.

Over the holidays, we’re sharing our favorite episodes on the hottest topics of 2023. And this year, a new food trend really took over our town. Lately, buffets seem to be shuttering left and right, and it seems like food halls are rising up to take their place: New food halls have popped up at Durango Station, the Cosmopolitan, downtown’s Fremont, and even off-Strip centers like the Uncommons. So why are food halls all the rage now, and is this the death knell of the iconic Vegas buffet? In this episode from February, our colleague Vogue Robinson talks with food influencer Phil Tzeng, A.K.A. Las Vegas Fill, about the rise of food halls, the best ones to visit in Vegas, and where the Vegas buffet is headed. Are you team food hall or team buffet? Let us know on social media (we’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram), or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719. For more on what’s happening in Las Vegas (and it’s a lot), sign up for our brilliant daily newsletter: You’ll get a curated selection of the Valley’s best events, latest news, and sharpest observations. Sign up here!

This week we’re showcasing some of the best of City Cast over the past year. Today, we take another look at one of our most controversial episodes of 2023: debating the fairness over new Short Term Rental (STR) rules imposed by Clark County last spring. In this episode from April, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Jackie Flores and Louis Koorndyk, both STR operators and co-founders of the Greater Las Vegas STR Association. They say Clark County’s 2023 STRs rules are too restrictive and maybe unconstitutional. It’s a spirited conversation — and a timely one as AirBnB-type operations are again in the national spotlight and a lawsuit to curb regulations lingers in the Nevada Supreme Court with briefing set to conclude in January. What are your thoughts on STRs in Las Vegas? Call or text us at 702-514-0719, or tag us on Twitter and Instagram (we’re @CityCastVegas). Want more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our brilliant morning newsletter here.

This holiday week, we’re revisiting our biggest stories of 2023. Already an icon on the Las Vegas skyline, the Sphere at The Venetian Resort opened on September 29, 2023 and instantly entered the international culture conversation. From the New Yorker and the Atlantic to SNL, people around the world are talking A LOT about the giant magical compendium of light and images. Whether you’re ready to shell out hundreds for a ticket inside the Sphere, the outside is also a marvel — so what’s the best place for viewing the Sphere and maybe even snapping a shot? In this episode from September, Las Vegas photojournalist Mikayla Whitmore shares tips for viewing and photographing the Sphere with host Dayvid Figler. Check out Mikayla’s already famous featured image in Bloomberg here. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

On today’s Friday New Roundup, we’re bringing you the holiday gift of joy and chaos: All 5 members of the City Cast Las Vegas team join the convo today to look back on the year together. We discuss our picks for the most underrated news stories of 2023, describe our best meals out this year, and share some big news about some changes coming up for our team. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

This was the year that the pandemic closures began to finally feel like a hazy memory, and the frisson of new restaurant openings once again got the PR newswires buzzing. Today, to help us cut through the noise, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with food writers and podcasters John Curtas and Gemini Stevens. They’ve eaten basically everywhere across Vegas, and share their top picks for the best new restaurants that opened in 2023. You can follow Gemini on social media — she’s @wishboneandvine on Twitter and Instagram and on her website, wishboneandvine.com. You can hear more of Gemini on the Food and Loathing podcast. And follow John Curtas on Twitter and Instagram, and make sure to check out his list of 52 essential Vegas restaurants on his website, eatinglv.com. John also podcasts at Eat. Talk. Repeat. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here. Places mentioned: Fine Company Naxos Taverna Basilico 1228 Main Winnie & Ethel’s Azzurra Cucina Lamoon Double Zero Pie & Pub Peter Luger Mother Wolf

As we all look back in 2023, we gotta ask: Who would be on your naughty and nice list in Vegas this year? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with contributor and Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus to talk about the people, institutions, and forces of nature that won our admiration or approbation this year. Hint: One of them is F1. Do you think they’re in the nice or naughty column? We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

December saw the grand opening of not just one, but TWO major casino openings in Las Vegas: The Durango, a hotly anticipated venue for locals, and the Fontainebleau, a long-awaited luxury destination for the tourist crowd. So who did it better? And did 16 years of waiting up the ante just a little too much for Fontainebleau? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with producer Layla Muhammad and co-host Dayvid Figler to compare, contrast, and sass (just a little) about the Durango vs. the Fontainebleau. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

At the beginning of the year, it was estimated that 60,000 people would move to Las Vegas in 2023 — and while we’re still waiting on the official numbers, we know that 5,000 people moved to Vegas from L.A. in August alone. So if you’re a newbie, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Las Vegas has always been a city of newcomers. Today, we bring back an episode from January, in which co-host Dayvid Figler and executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson invite Vegas newbie Kristine Johnson to ask her burning Vegas questions: About cars, the heat, and making friends. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Our friends over at Matt and Mattingly’s Ice Cream Social recently hosted our very own Dayvid Figler on their comedy podcast. Dayvid talks about highlights and behind-the-scenes from City Cast, and why his dream guest is Nicholas Cage. We’re delighted to share an excerpt from this fun conversation with you — for the full episode, head over to heyscoops.com. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The recall of 2 million Teslas this week for problems with the autopilot software was months in the making — but it’s got us thinking in Las Vegas: What does this mean for the Las Vegas Loop? On today’s Friday news roundup, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with contributor Andrew Kiraly to break down why the vehicles were recalled, and what it says about Elon Musk’s Boring Co. ambitions. Next up, the beleaguered Animal Foundation gets new funding (and apparently more oversight) at the same time that a puppy sale ban goes into effect — could this be a turning point for our pets in crisis? And lastly, with the 25th anniversary of the 775 area code this week, and the 10th anniversary of 725 taking place next year, we ask, only half-tongue-in-cheek: What kind of cachet does an OG 702 number carry? We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

A lot of us locals love to hate on palm trees in our landscaping — but did you know that they can produce edible fruit? Phoenix dactylifera, the date palm, produces those brown, wrinkly, caramel-flavored fruits that show up in Christmas cakes, Ramadan tables, and the date shakes you always see advertised along the I-15. So today, our co-hosts, Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman, a food historian and author of the book Endangered Eating, sit down to talk about the date palm’s winding road from the Middle East to the Mojave, how an Indigenous couple in Nevada saved the Medjool date from extinction, and why the palm-hate isn’t entirely warranted. A special bonus for our listeners — Sarah is sharing two date recipes from her book: Date recipes from Sarah’s book We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here. Interested in advertising on City Cast? Learn more here.

Our city has 2.3 million residents but 38 million visitors annually, so it’s no surprise that locals have a love-hate relationship with tourists. After all, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas — but so do we. Today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman welcome artist, podcaster and lifelong Las Vegan Justin Favela, AKA Favy Fav, to discuss our new rules for tourists: How to actually do Vegas right, and do right by Las Vegas. Don’t forget to check out the new season of Justin’s podcast “The Art People Podcast,” if you haven’t already. It’s the podcast about Art, people! What did we get right about tourists — and what rules would you add? Let us know: We’re @CityCastVegas on Instagram and [email protected] on email. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The Culinary Union’s recent contract negotiations with the “Big Three” casino companies on the Strip were by all accounts historic. So what exactly did they win — and how? Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Culinary 226 Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge to discuss the inner workings of those negotiations. Why do they last until 6am, who has to pay for the food, and was it all (as some commentators have suggested) for show? Plus, Dayvid and Ted get into a spirited conversation about Culinary’s arrest tactics, and look ahead at what’s next for Nevada’s biggest union. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Looking for gift ideas? City Cast Las Vegas’ producers Layla Muhammad and Sonja Swanson have you covered with recommendations on what to get teenagers and that quirky friend, as well as thoughtful but inexpensive gifts and more! Local recommendations mentioned: Writer’s Block Tat Bar Solection Death Drop Roller Skate Shop Antique Alley Mall Akin Cooperative The Phone Booth Best of Luck Designs Vogue’s Sip & Pour Memori.ES702 Arte Museum Snacks from around the world: Rani’s World Market on Sahara, Melkam Market on Decatur & Flamingo, Ron’s Armenian/Russian on Fort Apache & 215, and Nakata Market on Sahara & Rainbow Anna See LV Plant Collective Silver Post Market in the Alley on Dec. 17th Gaia Flowers Cactus Joe’s We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

It’s been a heavy week of news in Las Vegas, and our thoughts are with the victims of both recent mass shootings and their loved ones. The first happened last Friday, December 1st at a homeless encampment near Charleston Boulevard and Sandhill Road that saw four injured and one killed. The second at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Wednesday left 3 faculty members killed and one injured, currently in life-threatening condition. And on Wednesday, six Pro-Trump fake electors were indicted by a Nevada grand jury for pledging Nevada’s electoral votes to Trump, despite lacking the authority to do so. Co-host Dayvid Figler is joined by executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson and Nevada Current reporter April Corbin Girnus to share what we know so far about these developing stories, as of Thursday afternoon. An update: Since recording this episode on Thursday afternoon, we’ve learned more about the alleged shooter, including the fact that he sent 22 letters to faculty in both Nevada and North Carolina, and left a document "similar to a last will and testament" in his Henderson residence. Per LVMPD: "If anyone has any information or was at Beam Hall on Dec. 6th you are urged to contact the homicide section at 702-828-3521 or by email at [email protected]." We’re on social media: Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

On Wednesday morning, a mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas saw three people and the shooter confirmed dead along with another victim hospitalized. Executive Producer Sonja Cho Swanson, Producer Layla Muhammad and co-host Dayvid Figler take a measured look at how our city responds when public shootings occur, and relay stories of the confusion and chaos that unfolded hour by hour earlier in the day. We also assess law enforcement’s press conferences, and why the community needs real data as quickly as possible. One quick update to this rapidly-evolving story: More details have emerged about the shooting suspect, who some sources say was a professor from North Carolina who had recently been turned down for a job at UNLV. Student Counseling & Psychological Services are providing crisis support services to students both in-person and via telehealth. Please contact 702-895-3627 or [email protected] to access support services. We’re on social media. Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The hype around the Sphere has been endless — and by all accounts, seeing a show at the Sphere is actually pretty mind-blowing. But how do you get the most out of your Sphere experience, and are those hefty ticket prices worth it? To find out, we sent producer Layla Muhammad to see the immersive Aronofsky film "Postcard from Earth" at the Sphere. She debriefs with co-host Sarah Lohman, and they talk about how to get the best seats, where to find the best food, and just how creepy the robots in the lobby are (spoiler: very). We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

About an hour away from Las Vegas on the south Nevada/California border sits the Amargosa Valley. Named for the Amargosa River, the area made headlines earlier this year concerning lithium mining efforts in the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Now, according to Amargosa Conservancy executive director Mason Voehl, is the best time to see the basin that offers a variety of attractions and natural wonders. From sand dunes to hot springs, a date farm to an opera house, Voehl tells co-host Sarah Lohman why visiting the Amargosa is essential for Las Vegans. Places mentioned in this episode: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge China Ranch Date Farm Big Dune Amargosa Opera House Tecopa Hot Springs Shoshone Inn The Crowbar Cafe & Saloon We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Forget New York — Las Vegas is the real city that never sleeps. Our city has a higher percentage of night-shift workers than any other city in the country. But while our bars, restaurants, and grocery stores once catered to both the graveyard shift and sleepless tourists with round-the-clock service, 24-hour venues are getting harder and harder to find. Co-host Dayvid Figler and contributor Brent Holmes, both lifelong Las Vegans who grew up with graveyard shift parents, share their favorite witching hour stories, debate whether we can still call Vegas a 24-hour town, and shout out their favorite 24-hour spots that are still clocking in at all hours. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

So it turns out that the London Sphere might still have a chance after all: the UK “Secretary of Leveling Up” is requesting another look at the plans. As residents with front-row seats to the Sphere spectacle, we discuss: Who’s making the right call here? And do we want Vegas to keep the only MSG Sphere in the world? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with contributor Vogue Robinson and executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to talk about the week in news. We also discuss Dr. Miriam Adelson’s sale of $2 billion in Sands stock to help fund her purchase of the Dallas Mavericks (and what that means for both Las Vegas and Texas). And finally, we discuss a head-scratcher of a press-release (Las Vegas is apparently the 15th best city for candle-lovers?) and what our line of Vegas-scented candles would smell like. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

When someone asks about the “quintessential” Las Vegas dining experience, you might say the buffets or high-end restaurants on the Boulevard. But in a conversation from this summer, internationally ranked competitive eater and local Derek Hendrickson tells co-host Dayvid Figler why “there’s nothing more Vegas” than a food challenge. So if you are looking for an activity to do with your holiday visitors or wanting to test your own limits, Derek ranks the top food challenges in Vegas and shares some tips on how to clean your ridiculously large plate. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The dust around our city’s very first Formula 1 Grand Prix has settled, and the countdown clock for next year’s F1 has begun (359 days, to be exact). But what lessons can we learn from both the spectacle and the debacle of this year’s event? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel and Casino, which sits outside the F1 loop. They have a frank conversation about both the upsides and the downsides of F1, who this year’s event mainly benefitted, and how F1 can do better next year. You can hear more from Jonathan on his podcast, On The Corner Of Main Street. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

December is crammed full of festive gatherings, holiday events, and entertainment catering to both locals and the holiday tourist crowd. To help us sort through the noise, writer Eric Duran-Valle from TheList.Vegas sits down with co-host Sarah Lohman to talk about the events, eateries, and outdoor must-sees that he’s most excited about this month. Event recs: Dec. 7-16: Cowboy Christmas at Las Vegas Convention Center (link) Dec. 8: N8NOFACE at The Usual Place (link) Dec. 10: TubaChristmas at Town Square (link) Dec. 16 & 29: Marc Rebillet at Brooklyn Bowl (link) Dec. 17: Solstice celebration at Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (link) Now - Dec. 20: North Pole Express in Boulder City (link) Now - March 30, 2024: Pink Floyd Anniversary Show at CSN Planetarium (link) Places to go: Step Ladder Loop (hike) Raintree (hike) Fletcher Canyon (hike) Valley of Fire (hike) Fortification Hill (hike) Winnie & Ethel’s Downtown Diner (restaurant) Little Avalon (cafe) Check out these events and more on thelist.vegas! We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Las Vegas might be the tourist capital of the world, but not everyone comes away happy. So executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson collected some of the most extreme 1-star reviews from disgruntled visitors and today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman go head to head in a quiz game show. Can you guess which iconic Vegas attractions these 1-star reviews describe? We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas, here.

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? Last Thanksgiving, former co-host Vogue Robinson sat 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. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

F1 has come and gone — but our city is a house divided when it comes to the big race postmortem. So today, executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with co-host Dayvid Figler (who attended the race) to break it all down: We chat about some very bizarre components of the “production” (is actor Jared Leto doing poetry?), the view from the stands, and how even non-fans got caught up in the action. And as hard as it’ll be to figure out the real economic impact, maybe the ultimate measure of “success” will be if head cheerleader, LVCVA’s Steve Hill, can convince the powers that be that it was “the greatest event in Las Vegas history” — or if going all-in gets called as a bluff. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Last week, 8 teens were arrested in connection with the brutal beating death of Rancho high schooler Jonathan Lewis, Jr. His death is the latest of many high-profile instances of violence in schools that have shaken our community. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Nevada Current deputy editor April Corbin Girnus — they attempt to make some sense of why these events are happening and what schools can do. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Politico recently broke the news that NV Attorney General Aaron Ford is investigating the fake electors who attempted to overturn the results of our fair and free elections in 2020 — so is this another reminder of the flaws in our electoral system, and why might Nevada still want electors after all? Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by Nevada Independent reporter Jacob Solis to discuss this investigation, along with the results of a federal investigation into the deadly 2022 crash in North Las Vegas that killed 9. And finally, we celebrate 70 years of Vegas weddings and what gives them their international appeal. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

A traditional Thanksgiving conjures up images of stuffed poultry, multiple place settings, and endless hours in the kitchen. But we’re Las Vegas, and we break all the rules — so today, co-host Sarah Lohman chats with award-winning food writer Kim Foster about how to have the chillest, most Vegas-y Thanksgiving ever. Plus, who says you even have to cook at all? With all the culinary talent in this town, take-out and dining out options abound, and Kim’s got a list of recs (yes, one of them is a “Drinksgiving”). We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Formula 1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix is finally here and the reception to it so far has been… lukewarm. With locals already tired from the 6 months of construction and increased traffic, there are now reports that fan excitement was overestimated and ticket prices are dropping faster than the cars can make it around the 3.8 mile track. So is this just first-year growing pains or will all the issues amount to a poorly attended (and rainy) race weekend? Journalist Alan Snel from LVSportBiz.com tells host Dayvid Figler why the projected revenue might miss the mark and what the logistical and PR problems leading up to this weekend could mean for the future of Formula 1 in Las Vegas.

Mother Nature’s blockbuster Southern Nevada residency is suffering from its own success: Humans are increasingly crowding the beautiful places. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler asks Bertha Gutierrez, program director for the Conservations Lands Foundation, why the organization wants to draw even more of us outside, and how their tiny “spokespebble” is part of the solution. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

It’s giving season (though the need for food items is year-round) — and you might be surprised by some of the items that aren’t very useful at food pantries. Rae Lathrop, Director at Desert Spring Community Resource Center, talks with co-host Sarah Lohman about the do’s and don’ts of donating food, how anyone can access their services, and what food pantries really need. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

After months of negotiations, at the 11th hour before F1 comes to Las Vegas, the biggest casino companies in Las Vegas have come to the table with the Culinary Union and hashed out agreements that all sides are calling “historic.” So what makes them so significant, and what impact will these new contracts have on the tens of thousands of casino employees included in this process? Today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down with TheList.Vegas publisher Andrew Kiraly to discuss how Vegas just avoided the biggest hospitality strike in history, a new study that says DTLV bounced back from the pandemic for curious reasons, and — as we’ve just alluded to — the team welcomes Sarah Lohman as our new co-host! We have a fun Q & A with Sarah at the end of the episode, so stick around to hear about her best Vegas lifehack, and who she’d pick between Mojave Max and Chance the Gila Monster. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Dating in Las Vegas is already hard enough without the pressure to plan the perfect night to impress that special someone. So whether you have fully subscribed to “cuffing season” or just need some fresh ideas for navigating the Las Vegas food scene, we’ve got you covered at every price point. Al Mancini, creator of Neon Feast, joins executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson and host Dayvid Figler to hook you up with their recs for the best romantic date night dinners in Vegas. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The Nevada Independent and local PBS have just launched a new joint endeavor called the Nevada Democracy Project. Its goal is to increase civic engagement in Las Vegas and Nevada ahead of the 2024 elections through community listening sessions. During the first session at the West Las Vegas Library last week, community members raised issues about redlining, racism, and poor investment, but also asked what the media will do with this information afterwards. Host Dayvid Figler brings these and other questions to The Nevada Independent CEO Jon Ralston, who explains how he hopes this project will get more people involved in their community and what comes next. Watch the livestream or read a recap here. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Retail pharmacies like CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens are shuttering hundreds of stores across the country. Las Vegas isn’t immune: This Thursday, November 9th, the Walgreens at Charleston and Las Vegas Blvd is closing its doors for good. Neighborhood reactions are divided: We asked locals to call in, and today, host Dayvid Figler and acclaimed author Kim Foster, who both live near the embattled Walgreens, sit down to discuss your thoughts and reactions. Is retail theft really to blame? Is it corporate mismanagement or the hefty opioid settlements levied on these brands? And what happens now? We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The moment that locals have been dreading all year is finally here: Formula 1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. While the actual race cars hit the Strip this month, the city has been under construction to prepare the 3.8 mile track and other infrastructure for most of this year and the traffic just keeps getting worse. Locals and city officials have voiced their complaints so much that it’s hard to believe that anyone is excited for the 3-day takeover. Since it’s coming no matter how much we complain, host Dayvid Figler sits down with The Nevada Independent reporter and F1 superfan Jacob Solis. He shares why he’s excited to see his hometown take on F1 and how other locals can get excited. Read Jacob’s reporting in the Nevada Independent on F1’s impact on locals here and about ticketing here. Looking for a free watch party? Check out this list! We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Following the footsteps of the County’s controversial ban on people convicted of crimes from entering the Strip, the City is now proposing a similar ordinance around the Fremont Street Experience. It’s turned into a battle over the soul of spaces like FSE: Are these public forums for free speech, or are they commercial engines for our city coffers to be protected… at all costs? On today’s Friday news roundup, host Dayvid Figler talks about this issue with reporter Michael “MJ” Lyle of the Nevada Current and editor Lorraine Longhi from the Review-Journal. They also spill the tea on the surprising critique that Nevada Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager recently lobbed at embattled CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara (and the District’s spicy reply). And finally, that list of the Valley’s top 100 water users is once again circulating — it’s no surprise who’s at the top of that list. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

This time of year in Las Vegas, the weather is mid-seventies and sunny, breezy, and just plain gorgeous — in other words, it’s the perfect time to break out your picnic mats and head outdoors for a meal. Today, host Dayvid Figler sits down with producers Layla Muhammad and Sonja Cho Swanson to talk about our team’s favorite places to picnic (with updates on the Mt. Charleston road reopenings), where to buy picnic supplies, and whether or not you can cook food on a picnic and still call it a picnic. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.