City Cast Las Vegas

Spring has sprung in Las Vegas and so has our guide to March in the city! From must see shows to ways to get outside before the heat sets in, we’ve got you covered. Publisher of thelist.vegas Andrew Kiraly joins co-host Sarah Lohman to help you make the most of your March. This is the last week to become a founding member of City Cast Las Vegas. Join the club! 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. Events mentioned: Dita Las Vegas DJ Night Weapons at Velveteen Rabbit, The Garden, and Corduroy Sunday House Music Brunches at 18bin (every Sunday) Rooted Lounge Sound Bath at Ferguson’s Downtown (during New and Full Moon) Brew’s Best Beer Festival at The Lawn at Downtown Summerlin (March 16) Ice Age State Fossils Park Tacos and Tamales Festival at Desert Breeze Park (March 23-24) Art and nature events at Wetlands Park Spring Plant Sale at Springs Preserve (March 23) Who Knows? at Vegas Theater Company (March 5, 12, & 19) David Perrico Pop Strings Orchestra at The Smith Center (March 22) March Madness at Chickie’s and Pete’s at The Sahara Hotel Zone of Interest and Live Jazz at Segue at The Beverly Theater

Elon Musk’s Boring Company has taken over Las Vegas news this week. Construction workers for the Vegas Loop (unofficially the Tesla Tunnels) filed complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) over safety concerns that include working in toxic sludge with harmful accelerants and a lack of proper safety equipment. OSHA’s investigation was contested by the company, which claims there is insufficient evidence. In another part of the Valley, Henderson police issued 600+ traffic citations in just two weeks in an effort to make the streets safer. Also, the beloved Peppermill wins a prestigious food award from James Beard. Hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by City Cast Las Vegas executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to explain the big impacts on our city. Want to support our show and become a founding City Cast Las Vegas member?! Sign up here for ad free listing and more perks! 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 is known for a lot of things, but bagels are not one of them. But maybe they should be! It’s hard to compete against cities on the East Coast but Vegas bagels should not be overlooked. Today, we taste test four popular eateries in search of our city’s best bagels. Hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by City Cast Las Vegas executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to share their winners and the history behind Las Vegas’s favorite bagel spots. Want to support local media and become a founding City Cast Las Vegas member? For the price of a bagel with lox, you can help us keep bringing you daily podcast episodes and newsletters! Sign up today. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719 and let us know what food battle we should do next! Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

It’s safe to say that the Fontainebleau’s opening was… rocky, at best. In the two months after opening on December 13th, 2023, the property saw four executives abruptly leave, Nachogate went viral, and locals were infuriated over the on-again-off-again tier matching program. Journalist Arash Markazi lives on the north end of the Strip (he literally has a view of the Fontainebleau from his window), and recently called it a “bad bet.” But, as he tells co-host Sarah Lohman, there may be some hope yet for both the luxury property and the North Strip. 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.

Celebrity commentator and OG influencer Perez Hilton moved to Las Vegas a year ago and has quickly tapped into our red-hot social media scene — observing the best (and worst) of Vegas influencers from his Vegas-based account, @lasvegasperez. So today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Perez Hilton to get the inside track on how influencers impact our city, which of them have beef with each other (and why it involves footplay), and how much money an influencer can make. Love our podcast? Join our brand-new membership program! As a founding member, in addition to all the other great perks, you’ll also be enshrined on our website for all to see. Learn more at lasvegas.citycast.fm. 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 know what capital-capital is (that’s money), but what is social capital? And more importantly, why does Nevada have so little? In multiple rankings of the state, one from a congressional study, Nevada ranks next to dead last in this important metric. Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with commentator Kim Foster, whose latest book, “The Meth Lunches,” dives into what it looks like when a community is rich (and conversely, poor) in social capital, and how it goes far beyond simple neighborliness. Love what you’re hearing? Join our brand-new membership program as a founding member: You’ll be enshrined on our website for all to see. Learn more about all the perks at membership.citycast.fm. 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 news this week about a “missing murderer” conjured images of a guy with a knife creeping through backyards. But the truth is a lot more paperwork-related than the headlines might have you believe. Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down with producer Layla Muhammad to discuss. They also get into the protests over our rising gas bills, which have even Summerlin residents up in arms, and the swanky new Las Vegas Airbnb experience hosted by Christina Aguilera that you can apply for here (yes, Sarah applied, and yes, we’ll keep you posted!). Lastly, if you love this podcast, show us some love and help us win “Best Podcast” in the Las Vegas Weekly’s annual Best of Vegas Awards. It takes just 10 seconds of your time, and would mean the world to us. (Also, if we win, Dayvid has promised to share his most embarrassing high school photo, so there’s THAT, too!) 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.

With nearly a quarter of our jobs in leisure and hospitality, tipping is baked into Vegas culture. But as we’re being asked to tip in more places at higher percentages, customers are experiencing more “tipping fatigue.” Today we look back at a conversation with Las Vegas writer and former hospitality worker Brittany Bronson. She tells co-host Dayvid Figler how tipping can help and hurt workers fighting for fair pay — and shares her essential rules for tipping in Vegas. Vote for us in Las Vegas Weekly's 2024 Best of Vegas! Click here and write in "City Cast Las Vegas" in the Best Vegas Podcast category. 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.

“Across the Tracks: A Las Vegas Westside Story” is a new documentary that celebrates the history of Las Vegas’ predominantly Black neighborhood, the Historic Westside. Through interviews with original residents and historians, the documentary paints a picture of the origins of Las Vegas, starting with the railroad and the community brought up around it. In today’s episode, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with filmmaker Emmett Gates and writer Soni Brown about why this documentary still resonates today, and how we can keep the history in the Historic Westside. Across the Tracks: A Las Vegas Westside Story will be released March 6th. Follow them here for updates. See Usher detail his visit to the Historic Westside 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.

After recent news that a coyote might have bitten a football player in town for the Super Bowl, and, last week, that a two-year-old girl had to get a rabies shot after a coyote attacked her at Lake Las Vegas, the tensions over coyotes and humans coexisting in our desert town have surfaced again. So we’re bringing back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had last year with UNLV wildlife ecologist Dr. David Choate. They talk about why we’re seeing more coyotes, and what to do if you encounter one. Do you love what you’re hearing? Do us a solid and vote for City Cast Las Vegas in the Best Podcast category over at the Las Vegas Weekly. It literally takes 10 seconds (or less, if you are a very fast typer) — and you will fill our hearts with joy. Thank you! 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 numbers are trickling in, and by some estimates, the Super Bowl was an economic victory for our city. But not everyone cashed in. Today, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with contributor and Nevada Current reporter Michael MJ Lyle to talk about what the Super Bowl could do differently — and if its success changes the calculus on publicly-funded stadiums. Next, the team discusses two proposed downtown housing developments, including a hotly-contested sober living project, before moving on to what might be Las Vegas’s biggest scams, according to TripAdvisor (even though “scams” is probably the wrong word for it). Oh and hey, while you’re here — wanna do us a solid? Go vote for us in the “Best Podcast” category over at the Las Vegas Weekly. Four whole humans (and then some) work our butts off to make this show for you every single day, so show us a little love and help us win! 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 new year always seems to bring on a slew of new celebrity chef restaurant openings in Vegas: This season it’s Blake Shelton, Bobby Flay, and Michael Mina. And this summer, Gordon Ramsay will open his seventh (yes) Las Vegas restaurant. But does Las Vegas really need another celebrity chef restaurant? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with food writers Gemini Stevens and John Curtas to discuss the rise and (possible) fall of our celebrity chef era, and which celeb restaurants are actually worth the hype. 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. Love City Cast? Help us win "Best Podcast" in the Las Vegas Weekly's Best of the City Awards. It takes just 10 seconds to vote, and plus — co-host Dayvid Figler has promised to share his most embarrassing high school yearbook photo if we win (how could you not go vote now??). DOOOO IT! 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.

Over the last 20 years, the Culinary Union has become a force in Nevada politics to be reckoned with. Politicians court their endorsement, and their support can sway legislation. The historic contracts they just signed with the major Strip casinos (and now, most of the downtown properties, too) are a testament to the union’s sway. So what impact does the union have on our city, whether you’re in the union or not? How do they wield their influence in Las Vegas, and do they ever go too far? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Culinary 226 Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge for a rousing conversation. If you love City Cast Las Vegas, a) we love you too! And b) help us win "Best Podcast" in the Las Vegas Weekly's Best of the City Awards. Voting takes 10 seconds (maybe 15 if you're a slow typer), so do us a solid and help us achieve — if not world domination — a soul-affirming win for all the work we do. Vote now, please and thank you. 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 cowboy is an iconic figure in the history of the Southwest United States. Even when Las Vegas isn’t hosting the National Finals Rodeo or other rodeo events, you can still spot people in cowboy hats and boots around the city. What people may not know, from the now-typical image of the white heroic cowboy, is that there is a long legacy of Black cowboys who helped shape the history of this region. Contributor Brent Holmes shares the erased history of Black cowboys in Las Vegas with co-host Sarah Lohman. Do you love what you’re hearing? Do us a solid and vote for City Cast Las Vegas in the Best Podcast category over at the Las Vegas Weekly. It literally takes 10 seconds (or less, if you are a very fast typer) — and you will fill our hearts with joy. Thank you! Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Super Bowl LVIII is officially in the books — so how did this year’s event, hosted by Las Vegas, measure up? Co-host Dayvid Figler and executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson sit down on Sunday night after the game to compare notes: Highlights, lowlights, and all the fun, messy drama (cough-streakers-cough) that took place in our city. Plus, we rate the halftime show and our favorite commercials. 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.

What a week, right? You have the School Board and the superintendent embroiled in a popcorn-worthy resignation melodrama; you have the mayor of Las Vegas casting shade at the Oakland A’s, and then (whoops, negative press!) lamely trying to uncast it; you have a future Darwin Awards nominee climbing the Sphere to send an anti-abortion message. And we have podcast co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman, joined by TheList.Vegas publisher Andrew Kiraly, eager to sort it all out for you. 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.

Ethel M Chocolates is probably our valley’s sweetest fixture: Since 1981, the chocolate maker has been crafting premium sweets from their factory in Henderson. So who was Ethel M., anyhow? Why did a chocolatier choose the nation’s hottest state to set up shop, and what goes on inside their Willy Wonka test kitchen? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Ethel M’s chief chocolatier, Mark Mackey, to get the inside scoop on his sweet creations and Ethel M’s surprising origins. 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 has been anticipating hosting Super Bowl LVIII for the past few years and the time is finally here. This Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers face off against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium. Bryan Salmond, the main sports anchor for News 3 Las Vegas, sits down with co-host Sarah Lohman to explain how we landed the big game, what our city offers as hosts, and how locals feel about another major sporting event. 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.

Is there a prize for the most confusing primary process this year? Nevada Republicans might have just won it. GOP voters can cast their vote in both the state primary AND the caucus, but only one will decide who wins Nevada’s delegates at the Republican nominating convention. So what’s behind this split, and how does that affect Nevada’s national standing in the presidential election cycle? Nevada Independent reporter Tabitha Mueller joins co-host Dayvid Figler to explain what voters need to know about this week’s GOP election kerfuffle. 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.

February is going to be a wild time in Las Vegas (we’ve got the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, plus all of these new residencies) — but lucky you, City Cast Las Vegas is going to help you make the most of this month. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler and executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson sit down with lifelong local and radio DJ Heather Collins to get the inside scoop on the best way to spend your month. 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. Super Bowl On Mon. Feb. 5th: Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium (use promo code “NFLPARTNER”) Biggest Game Bash (Downtown Las Vegas Events Center), free Illuminarium at Area15 (sold out) Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate at the Linq Super Bowl Fan Experience at Mandalay Bay Convention Center Paramount Expedition Vegas at the Mirage Frito Lay’s Cheetos Chapel at New York New York TikTok tailgate with Gwen Stefani NFL One Pass app Valentine’s Day Americana at Desert Shores Lip Lab at the Fashion Show “Singles Awareness Day” at Proper Eats (on Feb. 15th) Vibes DIY Studio in Centennial Hills Nittaya’s Secret Kitchen Sweet Spot LV tsp. baking company anti-Valentine’s Day cookies and brownies Ohlala French Bistro prix fixe Valentine’s dinner Wu-Tang Clan at the Virgin Hotel New Edition at the Encore Vintage shopping downtown Alt Rebel Good Wolf Sin Amor Studio Akin Cooperative

This week’s biggest news is probably CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara’s resignation announcement, with one condition: Pay out his contract and he’ll go. But this doesn’t come without controversy. Today, executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by contributor Vogue Robinson and Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus to talk about the resignation and what comes next. Also, the team discusses a recent viral video from a Kamala Harris campaign event in Las Vegas this week that shows two women claiming they were barred from attending because they wore hijab, and the political implications for Biden in Nevada. And last but not least: Way more cars are driving without license plates now. What gives? (Plus: Our insider tips on navigating the DMV. You’re welcome.) 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.

Convention season is in full swing in Las Vegas. You might’ve heard of the really big ones like CES and the World of Concrete, but the newer Fancy Food Show is taking a bite out of the convention center crowd too. City Cast co-host and food writer Sarah Lohman worked there as an official trend spotter this month. She shares the craziest creations she saw at The Fancy Food Show, and what she predicts the biggest food trends of the year will be, with co-host Dayvid Figler. 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.

Have you ever driven past Coyote Springs, that never-built development 45 minutes into the desert? They’ve been tied up in legal battles over water for 20 years. And last week, the Nevada Supreme Court issued a ruling with major implications for Coyote Springs, but more importantly, for how our state uses water. Environmental reporter Daniel Rothberg just wrote about it for the Nevada Independent, and sits down with co-host Dayvid Figler to break it all down. It’s wonky, but Daniel makes it easy to understand — and we promise you’ll be the smartest person at the dinner table this weekend. For more of Daniel’s essential reporting on water, make sure to subscribe to his Substack, Western Water Notes. 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 are blessed in Las Vegas to be surrounded by diverse beautiful landscapes, but not everyone has a good time exploring our natural wonders. Executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson returns for round 2 of challenging co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler to guess which natural wonders received 1-star reviews. Play along and check out our episode about iconic Vegas attractions! 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.

For the thousands of Las Vegans who work in entertainment, while most of us are tucked into bed, midnight signals the end of the workday — and the start of playtime. So where do industry folks go after hours… and are late-night venues a dying breed? Co-host Dayvid Figler chats with Jacob Smith, podcast producer and head of audio for Absinthe. Jacob produces two excellent podcasts (and both their hosts have been on our show!) — make sure to check them out below: Matt & Mattingly’s Ice Cream Social Pod Therapy Jacob’s late night recs: Osaka Japanese Bistro Pho Kim Long Peppermill The Sand Dollar Lounge on Spring Mountain The Barbershop Count’s Vamp'd Don’t Tell Mama The Bootlegger Italian Bistro The 1230 Clown Show Kenny Davidsen’s Celebrity Piano Bar at the Tuscany Casino 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 Oakland A’s “fireside chat” this Wednesday, owner John Fisher’s light-on-substance responses were overshadowed by a mortifying moment: When the emcee attempted to elicit cheers for “the Las Vegas A’s,” she was met with crickets. So what does this event tell us about the A’s efforts, and how successful their community inroads have been? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with Nevada Independent reporter Jacob Solis to hash it out. Then, they discuss Trump’s sole caucus challenger in Nevada, and if we’re still the “we matter” state. And last but certainly not least, we give you the latest on the Fontainbleau’s Nachogate debacle (and Dayvid reports back from his nacho-ventures last night). 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.

Sure, we all fantasize about living on Mt. Charleston in summertime — but what’s life like for year-rounders, those intrepid few who decide to live there when snow drifts block roads and you have to (shudder) shovel the driveway? After this week’s massive snow dump on the mountain, we’re bringing back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had with year-rounder Jimmy Alderson, AKA “Mt. Charleston Mountain Man,” about what life is really like up there, and the survival skills you need to make it through winter. 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 housing market in Las Vegas just saw its lowest year in sales since the crash in 2007. That may be confusing to some who are feeling the effects of our growing population and seeing new housing developments creep into the desert. It's hard to tell if it's the right time for a move or not, whether you are from out of state or a longtime Vegas resident. Professor Nicholas Irwin teaches real estate and economics at UNLV. He explains to co-host Dayvid Figler what to look out for in the everchanging Las Vegas housing market, how renters and corporate buyers fit into the equation, and tells us if now is the right time to buy a house. Learn more about the Lied Center for Real Estate 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 Vegans love to hate on many things (tourists, traffic, the entire month of July), but no tree has earned more of our ire than the iconic palm. It’s been decried as a water guzzler, a landscape destroyer, and an all-around, no-good tree that gives us zero shade in a hot, dry desert town. But … are we maybe thinking about this all wrong? Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with tree expert and Nevada Plants founder Lisa Ortega, who makes the case for when and where palm trees might actually be good for 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.

Live in Las Vegas long enough, and you’ll hear about the Green Door, our valley’s most famous (or infamous) sex club. But what really goes on inside? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Gemini Stevens, a former kink educator, food podcast co-host, and all-around hedonist, for the 101 on how Vegas sex clubs work, the written and unwritten rules, and why they matter for 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.

It’s been a good and bad week for transparency in Las Vegas so we are talking about which legislators got money from the Oakland A’s, the Clark County Education Association suing the school district over a “vile” tweet allegedly sent by Superintendent Jesus Jara, and what New Year resolutions the city should keep even though today, January 19th, is when most people give up. Executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by co-host Dayvid Figler and Nevada Current reporter Michael Lyle to dive into the details. X thread reviewing data about Superintendent Jara’s account usage: https://twitter.com/DataInsightPart/status/1722617864795169115 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.

While Vegas media loves to highlight the latest food trends, hottest new restaurants, or the next big celebrity chef coming to town, one tried and true dining option gets overlooked in all the chatter: grocery stores. Even though we get most of our food in grocery stores, only a few consider sitting in and having a meal there. Surprisingly, Las Vegas has plenty of great local options so you can try getting your next meal before picking up a pint of milk. Writer and City Cast contributor Brent Holmes shares his favorite local grocery store meals and the joys of dining in with co-host Dayvid Figler. We mentioned this episode from last year on where to take your date for dinner in Las Vegas. Grocery stores mentioned: Cardenas Markets El Super Seafood City 168 Market Rani’s World Foods 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’s long-awaited new state park finally opens this weekend to the public on January 20th. Ice Age Fossils State Park is a unique attraction that delves into the history of Las Vegas during the Ice Age through fossils and historic trails. Park supervisor Garrett Fehner joins co-host Dayvid Figler to explain what visitors will see, why you can’t take the fossils home, and how the site is important to the history of scientific discovery. 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.

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.