Hotel/Studio/Bar.
L.A's & L.V's GUIDE
from United States in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES & LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
A visit to the world's entertainment capital isn't complete without some exposure to the actual business of making a movie or TV show. Fortunately, most production companies oblige.
In the 1940's and 1950's, the craft of neon sign making was elevated to the status of an art in Vegas. The sidewalks near and around Neonopolis are home to an interesting collection of historic neon signs.
GOLDEN GATE HOTEL, 1 Fremont Street.
Located at the head of the Fremont Street Experience, Golden Gate, originally known as Hotel Nevada and later as Sal Sagev, was built in 1906 and is the city's oldest and smallest hotel. It also has the distinction of introducing Las Vegas to the shrimp cocktail, brought over from San Francisco by the hotel's owner in the 1950's.
While the hotel has been expanded and modernized over the years, the casino and public areas retain a feeling of 19th-century San Francisco.
Visitors can still get a great shrimp cocktail served in a tulip glass with a wedge of lemon. However, Golden Gate's 106 rooms have come a long way since the days of horse-drawn carriages, and are furnished with most modern amenities. The casino has about 500 slot and video poker machines, plus the usual table games.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 1906.
THE PLAZA, 1 Main Street.
Established on land once owned by the railroad, The Plaza hotel has a built-in train depot and a Greyhound bus station. Located at the head of Fremont Street, the hotel was opened in 1971 by renowned hotelier Jackie Gaughan who sold it in 2004 to the Barrick Corporation.
The plaza is mostly noted for its cascading neon waterfall along the facade of its tower. The hotel's 1,200 rooms include 136 suites and are spacious, comfortable, and airy.
The decor is pleasant and features plush green carpeting, walnut veneer, and colorful patterns in the draperies and bedspreads.
Other amenities at The Plaza include a sports deck with a pool, jogging track, and the only tennis courts among the downtown casinos. The sports deck is often used as a venue for pool parties and other outdoor events during the summer months.
The hotel also hosts many eateries that offer a variety of cuisines, including Continental , Italian, and Chinese.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 386 - 2110.
CALIFORNIA HOTEL, 12 Ogden Avenue.
Despite its hip Hollywood implications, the California Hotel abounds with a tropical flavor and the aloha spirit. A part of the Boyd Gaming family of resorts, this 781-room hotel has been a Mecca for the Hawaiian tourist since it was built in 1975 - about 90 percent of the clientele are Hawaiians availing the resort's special tour packages.
In keeping with the theme, the hotel staff wear colorful aloha shirts, the restaurants offer Polynesian and Oriental specialties, and the bars serve tropical drinks.
Even California Hotel's casino, which is decorated with crystal chandeliers, etched glass, and Italian marble, has slot and video poker machines with Hawaiian names and themes. It also has a live keno lounge and a sports book.
The hotel's entertainment complex, Bridge Avenue, is home to several retail outlets and eateries such as the Cal Gift Shop, Aloha Specialities, and Vegas 808, as well as a video arcade.
As part of an expansion in 1996, a pedestrian walkway, which connects California Hotel with the Main Street Station resort, was constructed over Main Street.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 1222.
MAIN STREET STATION, 200 N Main Street.
Although this hotel originally opened in 1991, it closed after a few months because of severe financial problems. Thereafter, Main Street Station was purchased by Boyd Gaming and, since then, has emerged as one of downtown Las Vegas' classiest destinations.
The architecture suggests 1890's New Orleans with its brick promenade, magnolia trees, wrought-iron fences, and Victorian street lamps from pre-World War I Brussels. Inside, the hotel makes liberal use of hardwood and tile floors, gas lamps, brass fixtures, and enough antiques to fill a Southern mansion.
The hotel's lobby contains authentic hardwood railroad benches and bronze, dropped-dome chandeliers from the El Presidente Hotel in Buenos Aires.
The stained-glass window greeting casino visitors is from singer Lillian Russell's Pennsylvania mansion, and the carved mahogany cabinetry behind the registration deck came from a Kentucky apothecary.
The hotel also showcases President Theodore Roosevelt's Pullman railroad car, a fireplace from Scotland's Preswick Castle, US army scout and showman Buffalo Bill Cody's private rail car, and a section of the Berlin Wall.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 387 - 1896.
BINION'S, 128 Fremont Street.
Formerly known as Binion's Horseshoe, this hotel was founded by Texan gambler and bootlegger Benny Binion, and was once the most popular gambling hall in downtown Las Vegas.
During the 1960's and 1970's, the casino was packed day and night; every seat at the blackjack tables was filled and dice shooters crowded around the craps tables.
However, after BInion's death in the 1990's, the casino went through a period of financial instability and was finally sold to MTR Gaming in 2004. Las Vegas Escort Service.
Although much of the spark of the old Binion's has now gone, the casino still attracts many locals with its low-stake games.
The hotel's decor is true to its frontier heritage and reflects a Wild West theme with dark wood panels, etched glass chandeliers, and antique furnishings. The ceilings are low, as is the lighting, reminiscent of the Binion's of the 1960's.
Of the 366 guest rooms, 66 are part of the original hotel and feature Victorian wallpaper and brass or painted iron beds. The 300 tower rooms, annexed from the defunt Mint Hotel next door, are more modern in decor with plush carpeting, velvet headboards, and white-enameled furniture.
One of Binion's attractions was the World Series of Poker competition, with its winner's pot of $5 million or more. The competition is no longer hosted here, but has moved to Rio.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 382 - 1600.
GOLDEN NUGGET, 129 Fremont Street.
With its facade of polished white marble, gold trim, and white canopies, Golden Nugget stands out as a jewel among downtown hostelries. It is also the only casino in the area without a neon sign.
Inside, the hotel hosts the world's largest gold nugget, weighing an incredible 61 lbs. The hotel's elegant lobby has leaf-glass chandeliers, white marble floors and columns, etched glass panels, gold and brass accessories, and rich, red Oriental rugs.
The white marble and gold trim-themed decor is evident throughout the restaurants and the common areas as well. The hotel's guest rooms are also among the most luxurious in town with plush cream-colored carpeting and wall coverings. Newer additions to the casino include a high-stakes salon and an expanded poker room.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 7111.
FOUR QUEENS, 202 Fremont Street.
Reflecting a New Orleans motif, Four Queens is the Grand Old Dame of downtown. Built in 1966, the hotel was named after the original owner's four daughters, and has one of the best arrays of lights on Fremont Street.
The Four Queen's decor suggests the French Quarter with its carved wood registration desk, brass trim, gilt mirrors, and hurricane-lamp chandeliers.
The hotel's 690 bright, cheerful rooms feature plush tan carpets, beautiful brocade wallpaper, dark polished wood furniture, and Victorian four-poster beds for Las Vegas Escorts
The chandeliered casino has plenty of action and claims to have the largest slot machine in the world. At 9ft (3m) high and 20ft (6m) wide, it can take six players at a time. The usual table games are also available.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 4011.
FREMONT HOTEL, 200 Fremont Street.
The renowned casino was built in 1956 and was downtown's first high-rise hotel. Fremont Hotel was also the first to have a fully carpeted casino at a time when all other establishments had sawdust-covered floors.
Moreover, it was here that the famous Las Vegas headliner, Wayne Newton, made his singing debut.
Today, the hotel's block-long neon sign helps light up the Fremont Street Experience and, like its sister resort across the street, California Hotel, it features a tropical island motif while catering to a large contingent of travellers from the Hawaiian Islands.
The hotel's 447 guest rooms are modern and comfortable, and have attractive floral patterns in hues of emerald and burgundy.
The sprawling casino is always busy as bucket-toting gamblers flit from machine to machine - there are more than 1,000 slot and video poker machines to choose from. And, during the football season, Fremont Hotel's race and sports book is one of downtown's busiest.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 720 - 385 - 3232.
FITZGERALDS, 301 Fremont Street.
Commonly referred to as the "Fitz", this 638-room resort is the tallest hotel in downtown Las Vegas with its 34-storey tower. Located next to the Fremont Street Experience, the hotel offers an excellent vantage point to see the light shows that take place there each evening.
The casino has a playful Luck of the Irish theme and shamrocks, four-leaf clovers, leprechauns, and emerald green carpeting and wall coverings are used liberally throughout its interior - even the staff don emerald green uniforms.
The hotel also hosts a piece of the famous Blarney Stone from Ireland's Blarney Castle. The stone is believed to bestow the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness to the one who kisses it, and is a popular stop for visitors to the hotel.
Fitzgeralds even displays a gigantic neon rainbow with a pot of gold over the hotel's entrance. Standing guard here is Mr. O'Lucky, a jolly green leprechaun who is supposed to spread good fortune to those who pass beneath him. On St. Patrick's Day, March 17, the place turns into an Irish madhouse with parties, green beer, and much more.
In 1996, Fitzgeralds merged with Holiday Inn and underwent a $17-million expansion that included new restaurants, remodeled guest rooms, and a larger casino.
The hotel was subsequently sold to Detroit-based businessman and casino owner, Don Barden, in 2001.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 388 - 2400.
FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE
Fremont Street has been at the heart of Las Vegas since it was established in 1905. When gambling was legalized in Nevada in 1931, this is where the first casinos were located.
The street became known as "Glitter Gulch" when neon lightening became available, as stylish illuminated signs lit up the night sky.
In the 1980's and 1990's Fremont Street suffered in competition from more lavish attractions on the Strip and became a run-down city center, generally avoided by tourists.
In 1994, an ambitious $70-million project to revitalize the area was initiated. A vast steel canopy now covers five blocks of the street, from which the spectacular Fremont Street light-and-sound show projects five productions each night: The Drop, a mythical underwater journey; Area 51, a peek at a fantastical alien world; American Freedom, a patriotic salute to the Red White, and Blue; Odyssey; and Heartbeat.
The canopy's ceiling showcases high-resolution images presented by more than 12 million synchronized LED modules with concert-quality sound.
The street is pedestrianized and visitors can stroll from casino to casino, stopping to snack and shop at several kiosks along the way.
Some of the famous 1950's and 1960's neon signs gave way to the new show, but many of the dazzling facades belonging to some of the oldest and best-loved casinos remain.
Light shows: hourly
Open: 6pm - midnight daily.
NEONOPOLIS, 450 Fremont Street.
This open-air, multi-level dining, shopping, and entertainment complex is located at the east end of the Fremont Street Experience.
The most popular spots in Neonopolis are the Crown 14 movie theaters, which boast some of the largest auditoriums in town, and Jillians, a two-storey entertainment complex with arcade games, pool tables, the HiLife Lanes bowling alley, a cocktail tavern, and trendy restaurant.
The massive mall is also host to a wide variety of retail shops. One of the most interesting is the Lost Vegas Gambling Museum, which showcases an impressive collection of gambling memorabilia from Nevada casinos.
These include displays of slot machines, gaming chips, playing cards, matchbooks, license plates, and an extensive selection of photographs illustrating the early days of Las Vegas, including the construction of the Hoover Dam and the infamous mobster, Bugsy Seigel.
In addition to the exhibits - most of which are available for sale - the museum also has a boutique section that sells all manner of Las Vegas souvenirs and collectibles.
Open: hours vary.
Tel: 702 - 477 - 0470.
EL CORTEZ, 600 Fremont Street.
One of Las Vegas' most recognized landmarks, the El Cortez hotel was built in 1941 and holds the distinction of being the oldest casino in town.
The southwest wing, which faces Fremont Street, retains the original adobe brick building, tiled roof, and neon marquee that once stood three blocks from the nearest paved street.
The hotel's original guest rooms with their hardwood floors and tile baths are still intact and are reached via a creaky staircase just off the casino floor. For those looking for more modern accommodation, there is a 14-storey, 200-room tower with pleasant and comfortable rooms.
The hotel was once owned by Benjamin "Bugsy" Seigel who sold it when he needed to raise cash to build his famous Flamingo hotel on the Strip. It is currently owned by Jackie Gaughan, one of Las Vegas' true pioneers.
Gaughan owned several other hotels and casinos in downtown Las Vegas, including The Plaza, Vegas Club, Western Hotel, and Gold Spike, all of which he sold in 2004. However, he retained El Cortez, where he still lives in a penthouse apartment.
Today, El Cortez caters to travellers, senior citizens, and slot machine players who enjoy playing in the ambiance of an "old Las Vegas" style casino. Video poker and video keno are two of the most popular games in the sprawling casino, which is crammed with rows of machines of every type and coinage.
Because there are so many nickel poker and keno machines, the action here is often intense, noisy, and packed. The El Cortez casino also has a race and sports book.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 5200.
THE ARTS FACTORY, 101-109 Charleston Blvd.
Located just about a mile (1.6km) south of Fremont Street, in the Gateway Arts District, The Arts Factory is an eclectic collection of local artists who have set up shop in a long strip of storefront buildings.
Included in the mix are artists, graphic designers, architects, photographers, interior designers, and other craftspeople who enjoy the creative energy of working under one roof.
The Factory also houses several galleries and studios, such as the Sunrise Gallery, CUBE, Contemporary Arts Collective, Jawa Studio, Studio West Photography, Laura Zollar Gallery, and Cricket Studio, where the artists can showcase their works.
The building, like the others in the neighborhood, is old and somewhat neglected, but the artists have plied their talents to create a pleasing venue for their work.
On the first Friday of each month, the center organizes an event that features works by local artists, along with live music and other entertainment.
Open: daily; varies for each gallery.
Tel: 702 - 676 - 1111.
GRACELAND WEDDING CHAPEL, 619 Las Vegas Blvd S.
Established more than half a century ago, the Graceland Wedding Chapel is quintessential Las Vegas. Located about a mile south of downtown, it is the birthplace of the original Elvis-themed wedding that has since become a Vegas tradition.
The spire-like bell tower and sloped roof of this quaint chapel exude a Victorian flavor. Over the years, the chapel has seen many celebrities walk down its aisle.
Among the more recent are Billy Ray and TIsh Cyrus, Jon Bon Jovi, TV personality Jay Leno, and singers such as Aaron Neville and Roger Glover of the hard rock music group, Deep Purple.
The chapel offers several wedding packages and a choice of floral arrangements, photographers, and even a limousine service.
Open: hours vary.
Tel: 702 - 382 - 0091.
THE LAS VEGAS NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, 900 Las Vegas Blvd N.
A popular choice with families who need a break from the bustle of the Strip resorts, this museum has an appealing range of exhibits. Dioramas re-create the African savanna and display a variety of wildlife from leopards and cheetahs to several African antelope species such as bush boks, nyalas, and duikers.
The Wild Nevada Room displays flora and fauna of the Mojave Desert. Animatronic dinosaurs include a 35-ft (10.5m) long Tyrannosaurus rex, while the marine exhibit has live sharks and eels. In the hands-on discovery room visitors can dig for fossils and explore the five senses.
Open: 9am - 4pm daily.
Closed: major holidays.
Tel: 702 - 384 - 3466.
OLD LAS VEGAS MORMON FORT, 500 E Washington Blvd.
This small soft-pink adobe building that is the only remains of the Mormon Fort is a tranquil spot. The oldest building in Las Vegas, the fort dates back to 1855, when the first group of Mormon settlers arrived in the area. They constructed an adobe fort arranged around a 150-ft (45m) long placita - a small rectangular plaza - with 14-ft (4m) high walls, but abandoned it three years later.
The fort became part of a ranch in the 1880's and was run by Las Vegas pioneer Helen Stewart. The City of Las Vegas bought the site in 1971, and restoration work has been ongoing since.
Today, visitors enter a reconstruction of the original adobe house with its simply furnished interior much as it would have been under Mormon occupation.
The building also contains an exhibition that describes the Mormon missions and their impact on Las Vegas.
Open: 8am - 4:30pm daily.
Closed: public holidays.
Tel: 702 - 486 - 3511.
Paramount, NBC and Warner Bros. offer 2hr. guided tours that take you onto sets and through backlots. The best way to get a feel for the industry is to land yourself tickets to a taping. Studios tend to overbook, so holding a ticket does not always guarantee you'll get in; show up early.
NBC, 3000 W. Alameda Avenue., at W. Olive Avenue in Burbank, is your best bet. Arrive at the ticket office on a weekday at 8am for passes to Jay Leno's Tonight Show, filmed at 5pm the same evening (2 tickets per person.
Tours: Monday - Friday 9am - 3pm.
Tel: 818 - 840 - 3537.
Many of NBC's "Must-See TV" shows are taped at Warner Bros, 4000 Warner Blvd., in Burbank. Sitcoms such as the Drew Carry Show and Everybody Loves Raymond are taped from August - May.
Call the studio at least five business days in advance to secure tickets.
MOVIES
L.A's movie palaces show films the way they were meant to be seen - on a big screen, in plush seats, and with top-quality sound and air-conditioning. It would be a cinematic crime not to partake of the city's incredible movie going experiences.
The gargantuan theaters at Universal City, as well as those in Westwood Village near UCLA, are incredibly popular, especially on weekends; expect long lines.
In Santa Monica, there are 22 screens within the three blocks between Santa Monica Pl. and Wilshire Blvd. along Third St. Promenade.
To ogle the stars as they walk the red carpet into the theatre for a premiere, check the four main premiere venues: Grauman's Chines (about 2 per month), El Capitan (Disney films only), and Mann's Village and Bruin, in Westwood.
For info read the daily Calendar section of the LA Times.
Phone: 323 - 777 - 3456.
Devotees of second-run, foreign-language, and experimental films are rewarded by the Santa Monica theaters away from the Promenade.
MOVIE THEATRES
GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE, 6925 Hollywood Blvd.
In Hollywood, Hype to the hilt.
Tel: 323 - 464 - 8111.
ARCHLIGHT HOLLYWOOD CINERAMA DOME, 6360 Sunset Blvd.
The ultimate cineplex for the serious moviegoer. 14 movie screens surround a gigantic dome that seats 820 people and displays a screen that expands from 80 ft. to 180 ft.
A spectacular, rumbling sound system. First-run movies only. Don't be late - doors close 7 minutes after movies begin.
Tel: 323 - 466 - 3401.
LOEWS CINEPLEX, atop the hill at Universal City Walk, San Fernando Valley.
Opened in 1987 as the world's largest cinema complex, its 18 wide-screen theaters and Parisienne-style cafe put all competition to absolute shame.
Tel: 818 - 508 - 0588.
EL CAPITAN, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
A spectacle straight out of Fantasia. Disney movies and live Disney stage shows and exhibitions.
Tel: 323 - 467 - 7674.
MANN'S VILLAGE THEATRE, 961 Broxton Avenue, Westwood.
Vibrant neons illuminate the Art Deco facade. One huge auditorium, one big screen, and one great THX sound system. Watch the balcony for late-arriving celebrities. Frequent premieres.
Tel: 310 - 208 - 0018.
REVIVAL THEATERS
NUART THEATRE, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, West L.A.
Perhaps the best-known removal house. The playbill changes nightly. Classics, documentaries, animation festivals and foreign and modern films.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show screens Saturday Nights at midnight with a stellar live cast.
Tel: 310 - 478 - 6378.
EGYPTIAN THEATRE, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
For each old or new film it shows, the theater brings in the main actor, director, or producer to talk with the audience about the filming process. Films change regularly.
Tel: 213 - 365 - 3500.
LIVE THEATER
L.A.'s live theater scene does not hold the weight of New York's Broadway, but its 115 "equity waiver theaters" (under 100 seats) offer dizzying, eclectic choices for theatergoers, who can view small productions in art galleries, universities, parks and even garages. Browse listings in the LA Weekly to find out what's hot.
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE, 10886 LeConte Avenue, Westwood.
Currently undergoing a $17 million renovation. Home to Off-Broadway and Tony award-winning shows.
Tel: 310 - 208 - 5454.
PASADENA PLAYHOUSE, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena.
California's premier theater and historical landmark has spawned Broadway careers and productions.
Shows: Tuesday - Friday 8pm, Saturday 5pm and 9pm and Sunday 2pm and 7pm.
Tel: 626 - 356 - 7529 or 800 - 233 - 3123.
PANTAGES, 6231 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
Hosted the premieres of Cleopatra and Spartacus. Broadway national tour performances and cabaret acts.
Tel: 213 - 365 - 3500.
LIVE MUSIC
L.A.'s music venues range from small clubs to massive amphitheaters.
THE WILTERN
Shows alterna-rock/folk acts.
Tel: 213 - 380 - 5005.
THE HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM
Is of comfortable size with 3500 seats.
Tel: 323 - 962 - 7600.
UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATER
Midsize acts.
Tel: 818 - 622 - 4440.
GREAT WESTERN FORUM
Huge indoor sports arena.
Tel: 310 - 330 - 7300.
STAPLES CENTER
Double as concert halls for big acts.
Tel: 213 - 742 - 7100.
LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM AND SPORTS ARENA
Few dare to play at the 100,000-seat Arena. U2, Depeche Mode, Guns 'n' Roses, and the Warped Tour have filled the stands in recent years.
Tel: 213 - 480 - 3232.
HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood.
The premiere outdoor music venue in L.A., the Bowl hosts a summer music festival from early July to mid-September.
Although sitting in the back of this outdoor, 18,000-seat amphitheater makes the L.A. Philharmonic sound like it's on a transistor radio.
Tel: 323 - 850 - 2000.
MUSIC CENTER, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Downtown.
Includes the Mark Taper Forum, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre, and the spanking new Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Performance spaces host the L.A. Opera, Broadway and experimental theater, and dance.
Tel: 213 - 972 - 7211.
THE GREEK THEATRE, 2700 N. Vermont Avenue, Griffith Park.
Winner of the Best Small Outdoor Venue of the Year award to the last 3 years, this theater is a 6000-seat venue that has played host to some of the biggest names in music entertainment. A consistent line-up of pop, classical, reggae, rock, and more.
Tel: 665 - 5857.
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DOWNTOWN AND FREEMONT STREET
The city of Las Vegas and its now flourishing gabling industry grew up around Fremont street in the early 1900's. This is where the first casinos and their colorful neon signs were originally located. Although the area has undergone a vast transformation since then, some vestiges of its heritage can still be seen.
The Golden Gate hotel, for instance, has stood at the corner of Fremont and Main Street since 1906, and illuminated landmarks, such as Vegas Vic, continue to light up the night sky.
More recent attractions on this street, also known as Glitter Gulch, include the amazing light-and-sound shows of the Fremont Street Experience.
In the near future, a new enhancement program will bring new and bigger resorts, and new restaurants to the area. For the present, however, downtown still offers unpretentious dining, lodging, and entertainment at affordable prices.
AROUND FREMONT STREET
Originally known as Glitter Gulch, Fremont Street formed the heart of Las Vegas when the city was established in 1905. This is where the first casinos were founded, complete with stylish neon signs.
Today, the area has outgrown its frontier heritage, but still boasts the best collection of neon lighting - Vegas Vic, Sassy Sally, and many other adorning the Four Queens, Fitzgeralds, and Binion's casinos.
The main attractions here are the shows at the Fremont Street Experience. The street also hosts dozens of shops and restaurants.
MAIN STREET STATION
This classy hotel houses an enviable selection of antiques, artifacts, and collectibles.
GOLDEN GATE HOTEL
The city's oldest hotel, it is also know for introducing the shrimp cocktail to Las Vegas.
THE PLAZA
Formerly known as Jackie Gaughan's Plaza, this hotel was built in 1971 on the site of the original Union Pacific Railroad depot. It is also the only resort in town with a built-in Greyhound bus station, and a rooftop swimming pool that overlooks Fremont Street.
BINION'S
A Las Vegas landmark, this hotel exemplifies, and once led, the Glitter Gulch casinos of bygone days.
GOLDEN NUGGET
Downtown's largest and most elegant resort features a polished white marble facade.
FOUR QUEENS
Built in 1966, this hotel was named after the original owner's four daughters.
CALIFORNIA HOTEL
Despite its name, the hotel has a Hawaiian ambiance. Even the stuff wears aloha shirts.
FREMONT HOTEL
This is where the Midnight Idol and Vegas icon, Wayne Newton, made his singing deput.
FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE
This open-air canopy generates a spectacular light-and-sound show nightly, and protects pedestrians from the harsh sun during the day.
FITZGERALDS
This hotel has a Luck of the Irish theme with shamrocks, leprechauns, and four-leaf clovers throughout the casino. Even the hotel staff wears emerald green uniforms.
NEONOPOLIS
This multi-level mall is home to a variety of shops, eateries, nightclubs, movie theaters, and the Lost Vegas Gambling Museum. Las Vegas Escort Service.
EL CORTEZ
A friendly hotel, the El Cortez faces Fremont Street and is one of the few casinos to retain architectural features from its original 1950's building.
LAS VEGAS NEON
The neon sign remains the dominant icon of Las Vegas, despite the fact that many of the new themed mega resorts and shopping centers here have opted for a more understated look.
Neon is a gas discovered by British chemist Sir William Ramsey in 1898. But it was a French inventor, Georges Claude, who, in 1910, found that when an electric current passed through a glass tube of neon, it emitted a powerful, shimmering light.
A visit to the world's entertainment capital isn't complete without some exposure to the actual business of making a movie or TV show. Fortunately, most production companies oblige.
In the 1940's and 1950's, the craft of neon sign making was elevated to the status of an art in Vegas. The sidewalks near and around Neonopolis are home to an interesting collection of historic neon signs.
GOLDEN GATE HOTEL, 1 Fremont Street.
Located at the head of the Fremont Street Experience, Golden Gate, originally known as Hotel Nevada and later as Sal Sagev, was built in 1906 and is the city's oldest and smallest hotel. It also has the distinction of introducing Las Vegas to the shrimp cocktail, brought over from San Francisco by the hotel's owner in the 1950's.
While the hotel has been expanded and modernized over the years, the casino and public areas retain a feeling of 19th-century San Francisco.
Visitors can still get a great shrimp cocktail served in a tulip glass with a wedge of lemon. However, Golden Gate's 106 rooms have come a long way since the days of horse-drawn carriages, and are furnished with most modern amenities. The casino has about 500 slot and video poker machines, plus the usual table games.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 1906.
THE PLAZA, 1 Main Street.
Established on land once owned by the railroad, The Plaza hotel has a built-in train depot and a Greyhound bus station. Located at the head of Fremont Street, the hotel was opened in 1971 by renowned hotelier Jackie Gaughan who sold it in 2004 to the Barrick Corporation.
The plaza is mostly noted for its cascading neon waterfall along the facade of its tower. The hotel's 1,200 rooms include 136 suites and are spacious, comfortable, and airy.
The decor is pleasant and features plush green carpeting, walnut veneer, and colorful patterns in the draperies and bedspreads.
Other amenities at The Plaza include a sports deck with a pool, jogging track, and the only tennis courts among the downtown casinos. The sports deck is often used as a venue for pool parties and other outdoor events during the summer months.
The hotel also hosts many eateries that offer a variety of cuisines, including Continental , Italian, and Chinese.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 386 - 2110.
CALIFORNIA HOTEL, 12 Ogden Avenue.
Despite its hip Hollywood implications, the California Hotel abounds with a tropical flavor and the aloha spirit. A part of the Boyd Gaming family of resorts, this 781-room hotel has been a Mecca for the Hawaiian tourist since it was built in 1975 - about 90 percent of the clientele are Hawaiians availing the resort's special tour packages.
In keeping with the theme, the hotel staff wear colorful aloha shirts, the restaurants offer Polynesian and Oriental specialties, and the bars serve tropical drinks.
Even California Hotel's casino, which is decorated with crystal chandeliers, etched glass, and Italian marble, has slot and video poker machines with Hawaiian names and themes. It also has a live keno lounge and a sports book.
The hotel's entertainment complex, Bridge Avenue, is home to several retail outlets and eateries such as the Cal Gift Shop, Aloha Specialities, and Vegas 808, as well as a video arcade.
As part of an expansion in 1996, a pedestrian walkway, which connects California Hotel with the Main Street Station resort, was constructed over Main Street.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 1222.
MAIN STREET STATION, 200 N Main Street.
Although this hotel originally opened in 1991, it closed after a few months because of severe financial problems. Thereafter, Main Street Station was purchased by Boyd Gaming and, since then, has emerged as one of downtown Las Vegas' classiest destinations.
The architecture suggests 1890's New Orleans with its brick promenade, magnolia trees, wrought-iron fences, and Victorian street lamps from pre-World War I Brussels. Inside, the hotel makes liberal use of hardwood and tile floors, gas lamps, brass fixtures, and enough antiques to fill a Southern mansion.
The hotel's lobby contains authentic hardwood railroad benches and bronze, dropped-dome chandeliers from the El Presidente Hotel in Buenos Aires.
The stained-glass window greeting casino visitors is from singer Lillian Russell's Pennsylvania mansion, and the carved mahogany cabinetry behind the registration deck came from a Kentucky apothecary.
The hotel also showcases President Theodore Roosevelt's Pullman railroad car, a fireplace from Scotland's Preswick Castle, US army scout and showman Buffalo Bill Cody's private rail car, and a section of the Berlin Wall.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 387 - 1896.
BINION'S, 128 Fremont Street.
Formerly known as Binion's Horseshoe, this hotel was founded by Texan gambler and bootlegger Benny Binion, and was once the most popular gambling hall in downtown Las Vegas.
During the 1960's and 1970's, the casino was packed day and night; every seat at the blackjack tables was filled and dice shooters crowded around the craps tables.
However, after BInion's death in the 1990's, the casino went through a period of financial instability and was finally sold to MTR Gaming in 2004. Las Vegas Escort Service.
Although much of the spark of the old Binion's has now gone, the casino still attracts many locals with its low-stake games.
The hotel's decor is true to its frontier heritage and reflects a Wild West theme with dark wood panels, etched glass chandeliers, and antique furnishings. The ceilings are low, as is the lighting, reminiscent of the Binion's of the 1960's.
Of the 366 guest rooms, 66 are part of the original hotel and feature Victorian wallpaper and brass or painted iron beds. The 300 tower rooms, annexed from the defunt Mint Hotel next door, are more modern in decor with plush carpeting, velvet headboards, and white-enameled furniture.
One of Binion's attractions was the World Series of Poker competition, with its winner's pot of $5 million or more. The competition is no longer hosted here, but has moved to Rio.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 382 - 1600.
GOLDEN NUGGET, 129 Fremont Street.
With its facade of polished white marble, gold trim, and white canopies, Golden Nugget stands out as a jewel among downtown hostelries. It is also the only casino in the area without a neon sign.
Inside, the hotel hosts the world's largest gold nugget, weighing an incredible 61 lbs. The hotel's elegant lobby has leaf-glass chandeliers, white marble floors and columns, etched glass panels, gold and brass accessories, and rich, red Oriental rugs.
The white marble and gold trim-themed decor is evident throughout the restaurants and the common areas as well. The hotel's guest rooms are also among the most luxurious in town with plush cream-colored carpeting and wall coverings. Newer additions to the casino include a high-stakes salon and an expanded poker room.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 7111.
FOUR QUEENS, 202 Fremont Street.
Reflecting a New Orleans motif, Four Queens is the Grand Old Dame of downtown. Built in 1966, the hotel was named after the original owner's four daughters, and has one of the best arrays of lights on Fremont Street.
The Four Queen's decor suggests the French Quarter with its carved wood registration desk, brass trim, gilt mirrors, and hurricane-lamp chandeliers.
The hotel's 690 bright, cheerful rooms feature plush tan carpets, beautiful brocade wallpaper, dark polished wood furniture, and Victorian four-poster beds for Las Vegas Escorts
The chandeliered casino has plenty of action and claims to have the largest slot machine in the world. At 9ft (3m) high and 20ft (6m) wide, it can take six players at a time. The usual table games are also available.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 4011.
FREMONT HOTEL, 200 Fremont Street.
The renowned casino was built in 1956 and was downtown's first high-rise hotel. Fremont Hotel was also the first to have a fully carpeted casino at a time when all other establishments had sawdust-covered floors.
Moreover, it was here that the famous Las Vegas headliner, Wayne Newton, made his singing debut.
Today, the hotel's block-long neon sign helps light up the Fremont Street Experience and, like its sister resort across the street, California Hotel, it features a tropical island motif while catering to a large contingent of travellers from the Hawaiian Islands.
The hotel's 447 guest rooms are modern and comfortable, and have attractive floral patterns in hues of emerald and burgundy.
The sprawling casino is always busy as bucket-toting gamblers flit from machine to machine - there are more than 1,000 slot and video poker machines to choose from. And, during the football season, Fremont Hotel's race and sports book is one of downtown's busiest.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 720 - 385 - 3232.
FITZGERALDS, 301 Fremont Street.
Commonly referred to as the "Fitz", this 638-room resort is the tallest hotel in downtown Las Vegas with its 34-storey tower. Located next to the Fremont Street Experience, the hotel offers an excellent vantage point to see the light shows that take place there each evening.
The casino has a playful Luck of the Irish theme and shamrocks, four-leaf clovers, leprechauns, and emerald green carpeting and wall coverings are used liberally throughout its interior - even the staff don emerald green uniforms.
The hotel also hosts a piece of the famous Blarney Stone from Ireland's Blarney Castle. The stone is believed to bestow the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness to the one who kisses it, and is a popular stop for visitors to the hotel.
Fitzgeralds even displays a gigantic neon rainbow with a pot of gold over the hotel's entrance. Standing guard here is Mr. O'Lucky, a jolly green leprechaun who is supposed to spread good fortune to those who pass beneath him. On St. Patrick's Day, March 17, the place turns into an Irish madhouse with parties, green beer, and much more.
In 1996, Fitzgeralds merged with Holiday Inn and underwent a $17-million expansion that included new restaurants, remodeled guest rooms, and a larger casino.
The hotel was subsequently sold to Detroit-based businessman and casino owner, Don Barden, in 2001.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 388 - 2400.
FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE
Fremont Street has been at the heart of Las Vegas since it was established in 1905. When gambling was legalized in Nevada in 1931, this is where the first casinos were located.
The street became known as "Glitter Gulch" when neon lightening became available, as stylish illuminated signs lit up the night sky.
In the 1980's and 1990's Fremont Street suffered in competition from more lavish attractions on the Strip and became a run-down city center, generally avoided by tourists.
In 1994, an ambitious $70-million project to revitalize the area was initiated. A vast steel canopy now covers five blocks of the street, from which the spectacular Fremont Street light-and-sound show projects five productions each night: The Drop, a mythical underwater journey; Area 51, a peek at a fantastical alien world; American Freedom, a patriotic salute to the Red White, and Blue; Odyssey; and Heartbeat.
The canopy's ceiling showcases high-resolution images presented by more than 12 million synchronized LED modules with concert-quality sound.
The street is pedestrianized and visitors can stroll from casino to casino, stopping to snack and shop at several kiosks along the way.
Some of the famous 1950's and 1960's neon signs gave way to the new show, but many of the dazzling facades belonging to some of the oldest and best-loved casinos remain.
Light shows: hourly
Open: 6pm - midnight daily.
NEONOPOLIS, 450 Fremont Street.
This open-air, multi-level dining, shopping, and entertainment complex is located at the east end of the Fremont Street Experience.
The most popular spots in Neonopolis are the Crown 14 movie theaters, which boast some of the largest auditoriums in town, and Jillians, a two-storey entertainment complex with arcade games, pool tables, the HiLife Lanes bowling alley, a cocktail tavern, and trendy restaurant.
The massive mall is also host to a wide variety of retail shops. One of the most interesting is the Lost Vegas Gambling Museum, which showcases an impressive collection of gambling memorabilia from Nevada casinos.
These include displays of slot machines, gaming chips, playing cards, matchbooks, license plates, and an extensive selection of photographs illustrating the early days of Las Vegas, including the construction of the Hoover Dam and the infamous mobster, Bugsy Seigel.
In addition to the exhibits - most of which are available for sale - the museum also has a boutique section that sells all manner of Las Vegas souvenirs and collectibles.
Open: hours vary.
Tel: 702 - 477 - 0470.
EL CORTEZ, 600 Fremont Street.
One of Las Vegas' most recognized landmarks, the El Cortez hotel was built in 1941 and holds the distinction of being the oldest casino in town.
The southwest wing, which faces Fremont Street, retains the original adobe brick building, tiled roof, and neon marquee that once stood three blocks from the nearest paved street.
The hotel's original guest rooms with their hardwood floors and tile baths are still intact and are reached via a creaky staircase just off the casino floor. For those looking for more modern accommodation, there is a 14-storey, 200-room tower with pleasant and comfortable rooms.
The hotel was once owned by Benjamin "Bugsy" Seigel who sold it when he needed to raise cash to build his famous Flamingo hotel on the Strip. It is currently owned by Jackie Gaughan, one of Las Vegas' true pioneers.
Gaughan owned several other hotels and casinos in downtown Las Vegas, including The Plaza, Vegas Club, Western Hotel, and Gold Spike, all of which he sold in 2004. However, he retained El Cortez, where he still lives in a penthouse apartment.
Today, El Cortez caters to travellers, senior citizens, and slot machine players who enjoy playing in the ambiance of an "old Las Vegas" style casino. Video poker and video keno are two of the most popular games in the sprawling casino, which is crammed with rows of machines of every type and coinage.
Because there are so many nickel poker and keno machines, the action here is often intense, noisy, and packed. The El Cortez casino also has a race and sports book.
Open: 24 hours.
Tel: 702 - 385 - 5200.
THE ARTS FACTORY, 101-109 Charleston Blvd.
Located just about a mile (1.6km) south of Fremont Street, in the Gateway Arts District, The Arts Factory is an eclectic collection of local artists who have set up shop in a long strip of storefront buildings.
Included in the mix are artists, graphic designers, architects, photographers, interior designers, and other craftspeople who enjoy the creative energy of working under one roof.
The Factory also houses several galleries and studios, such as the Sunrise Gallery, CUBE, Contemporary Arts Collective, Jawa Studio, Studio West Photography, Laura Zollar Gallery, and Cricket Studio, where the artists can showcase their works.
The building, like the others in the neighborhood, is old and somewhat neglected, but the artists have plied their talents to create a pleasing venue for their work.
On the first Friday of each month, the center organizes an event that features works by local artists, along with live music and other entertainment.
Open: daily; varies for each gallery.
Tel: 702 - 676 - 1111.
GRACELAND WEDDING CHAPEL, 619 Las Vegas Blvd S.
Established more than half a century ago, the Graceland Wedding Chapel is quintessential Las Vegas. Located about a mile south of downtown, it is the birthplace of the original Elvis-themed wedding that has since become a Vegas tradition.
The spire-like bell tower and sloped roof of this quaint chapel exude a Victorian flavor. Over the years, the chapel has seen many celebrities walk down its aisle.
Among the more recent are Billy Ray and TIsh Cyrus, Jon Bon Jovi, TV personality Jay Leno, and singers such as Aaron Neville and Roger Glover of the hard rock music group, Deep Purple.
The chapel offers several wedding packages and a choice of floral arrangements, photographers, and even a limousine service.
Open: hours vary.
Tel: 702 - 382 - 0091.
THE LAS VEGAS NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, 900 Las Vegas Blvd N.
A popular choice with families who need a break from the bustle of the Strip resorts, this museum has an appealing range of exhibits. Dioramas re-create the African savanna and display a variety of wildlife from leopards and cheetahs to several African antelope species such as bush boks, nyalas, and duikers.
The Wild Nevada Room displays flora and fauna of the Mojave Desert. Animatronic dinosaurs include a 35-ft (10.5m) long Tyrannosaurus rex, while the marine exhibit has live sharks and eels. In the hands-on discovery room visitors can dig for fossils and explore the five senses.
Open: 9am - 4pm daily.
Closed: major holidays.
Tel: 702 - 384 - 3466.
OLD LAS VEGAS MORMON FORT, 500 E Washington Blvd.
This small soft-pink adobe building that is the only remains of the Mormon Fort is a tranquil spot. The oldest building in Las Vegas, the fort dates back to 1855, when the first group of Mormon settlers arrived in the area. They constructed an adobe fort arranged around a 150-ft (45m) long placita - a small rectangular plaza - with 14-ft (4m) high walls, but abandoned it three years later.
The fort became part of a ranch in the 1880's and was run by Las Vegas pioneer Helen Stewart. The City of Las Vegas bought the site in 1971, and restoration work has been ongoing since.
Today, visitors enter a reconstruction of the original adobe house with its simply furnished interior much as it would have been under Mormon occupation.
The building also contains an exhibition that describes the Mormon missions and their impact on Las Vegas.
Open: 8am - 4:30pm daily.
Closed: public holidays.
Tel: 702 - 486 - 3511.
Paramount, NBC and Warner Bros. offer 2hr. guided tours that take you onto sets and through backlots. The best way to get a feel for the industry is to land yourself tickets to a taping. Studios tend to overbook, so holding a ticket does not always guarantee you'll get in; show up early.
NBC, 3000 W. Alameda Avenue., at W. Olive Avenue in Burbank, is your best bet. Arrive at the ticket office on a weekday at 8am for passes to Jay Leno's Tonight Show, filmed at 5pm the same evening (2 tickets per person.
Tours: Monday - Friday 9am - 3pm.
Tel: 818 - 840 - 3537.
Many of NBC's "Must-See TV" shows are taped at Warner Bros, 4000 Warner Blvd., in Burbank. Sitcoms such as the Drew Carry Show and Everybody Loves Raymond are taped from August - May.
Call the studio at least five business days in advance to secure tickets.
MOVIES
L.A's movie palaces show films the way they were meant to be seen - on a big screen, in plush seats, and with top-quality sound and air-conditioning. It would be a cinematic crime not to partake of the city's incredible movie going experiences.
The gargantuan theaters at Universal City, as well as those in Westwood Village near UCLA, are incredibly popular, especially on weekends; expect long lines.
In Santa Monica, there are 22 screens within the three blocks between Santa Monica Pl. and Wilshire Blvd. along Third St. Promenade.
To ogle the stars as they walk the red carpet into the theatre for a premiere, check the four main premiere venues: Grauman's Chines (about 2 per month), El Capitan (Disney films only), and Mann's Village and Bruin, in Westwood.
For info read the daily Calendar section of the LA Times.
Phone: 323 - 777 - 3456.
Devotees of second-run, foreign-language, and experimental films are rewarded by the Santa Monica theaters away from the Promenade.
MOVIE THEATRES
GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE, 6925 Hollywood Blvd.
In Hollywood, Hype to the hilt.
Tel: 323 - 464 - 8111.
ARCHLIGHT HOLLYWOOD CINERAMA DOME, 6360 Sunset Blvd.
The ultimate cineplex for the serious moviegoer. 14 movie screens surround a gigantic dome that seats 820 people and displays a screen that expands from 80 ft. to 180 ft.
A spectacular, rumbling sound system. First-run movies only. Don't be late - doors close 7 minutes after movies begin.
Tel: 323 - 466 - 3401.
LOEWS CINEPLEX, atop the hill at Universal City Walk, San Fernando Valley.
Opened in 1987 as the world's largest cinema complex, its 18 wide-screen theaters and Parisienne-style cafe put all competition to absolute shame.
Tel: 818 - 508 - 0588.
EL CAPITAN, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
A spectacle straight out of Fantasia. Disney movies and live Disney stage shows and exhibitions.
Tel: 323 - 467 - 7674.
MANN'S VILLAGE THEATRE, 961 Broxton Avenue, Westwood.
Vibrant neons illuminate the Art Deco facade. One huge auditorium, one big screen, and one great THX sound system. Watch the balcony for late-arriving celebrities. Frequent premieres.
Tel: 310 - 208 - 0018.
REVIVAL THEATERS
NUART THEATRE, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, West L.A.
Perhaps the best-known removal house. The playbill changes nightly. Classics, documentaries, animation festivals and foreign and modern films.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show screens Saturday Nights at midnight with a stellar live cast.
Tel: 310 - 478 - 6378.
EGYPTIAN THEATRE, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
For each old or new film it shows, the theater brings in the main actor, director, or producer to talk with the audience about the filming process. Films change regularly.
Tel: 213 - 365 - 3500.
LIVE THEATER
L.A.'s live theater scene does not hold the weight of New York's Broadway, but its 115 "equity waiver theaters" (under 100 seats) offer dizzying, eclectic choices for theatergoers, who can view small productions in art galleries, universities, parks and even garages. Browse listings in the LA Weekly to find out what's hot.
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE, 10886 LeConte Avenue, Westwood.
Currently undergoing a $17 million renovation. Home to Off-Broadway and Tony award-winning shows.
Tel: 310 - 208 - 5454.
PASADENA PLAYHOUSE, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena.
California's premier theater and historical landmark has spawned Broadway careers and productions.
Shows: Tuesday - Friday 8pm, Saturday 5pm and 9pm and Sunday 2pm and 7pm.
Tel: 626 - 356 - 7529 or 800 - 233 - 3123.
PANTAGES, 6231 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
Hosted the premieres of Cleopatra and Spartacus. Broadway national tour performances and cabaret acts.
Tel: 213 - 365 - 3500.
LIVE MUSIC
L.A.'s music venues range from small clubs to massive amphitheaters.
THE WILTERN
Shows alterna-rock/folk acts.
Tel: 213 - 380 - 5005.
THE HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM
Is of comfortable size with 3500 seats.
Tel: 323 - 962 - 7600.
UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATER
Midsize acts.
Tel: 818 - 622 - 4440.
GREAT WESTERN FORUM
Huge indoor sports arena.
Tel: 310 - 330 - 7300.
STAPLES CENTER
Double as concert halls for big acts.
Tel: 213 - 742 - 7100.
LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM AND SPORTS ARENA
Few dare to play at the 100,000-seat Arena. U2, Depeche Mode, Guns 'n' Roses, and the Warped Tour have filled the stands in recent years.
Tel: 213 - 480 - 3232.
HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood.
The premiere outdoor music venue in L.A., the Bowl hosts a summer music festival from early July to mid-September.
Although sitting in the back of this outdoor, 18,000-seat amphitheater makes the L.A. Philharmonic sound like it's on a transistor radio.
Tel: 323 - 850 - 2000.
MUSIC CENTER, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Downtown.
Includes the Mark Taper Forum, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre, and the spanking new Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Performance spaces host the L.A. Opera, Broadway and experimental theater, and dance.
Tel: 213 - 972 - 7211.
THE GREEK THEATRE, 2700 N. Vermont Avenue, Griffith Park.
Winner of the Best Small Outdoor Venue of the Year award to the last 3 years, this theater is a 6000-seat venue that has played host to some of the biggest names in music entertainment. A consistent line-up of pop, classical, reggae, rock, and more.
Tel: 665 - 5857.
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DOWNTOWN AND FREEMONT STREET
The city of Las Vegas and its now flourishing gabling industry grew up around Fremont street in the early 1900's. This is where the first casinos and their colorful neon signs were originally located. Although the area has undergone a vast transformation since then, some vestiges of its heritage can still be seen.
The Golden Gate hotel, for instance, has stood at the corner of Fremont and Main Street since 1906, and illuminated landmarks, such as Vegas Vic, continue to light up the night sky.
More recent attractions on this street, also known as Glitter Gulch, include the amazing light-and-sound shows of the Fremont Street Experience.
In the near future, a new enhancement program will bring new and bigger resorts, and new restaurants to the area. For the present, however, downtown still offers unpretentious dining, lodging, and entertainment at affordable prices.
AROUND FREMONT STREET
Originally known as Glitter Gulch, Fremont Street formed the heart of Las Vegas when the city was established in 1905. This is where the first casinos were founded, complete with stylish neon signs.
Today, the area has outgrown its frontier heritage, but still boasts the best collection of neon lighting - Vegas Vic, Sassy Sally, and many other adorning the Four Queens, Fitzgeralds, and Binion's casinos.
The main attractions here are the shows at the Fremont Street Experience. The street also hosts dozens of shops and restaurants.
MAIN STREET STATION
This classy hotel houses an enviable selection of antiques, artifacts, and collectibles.
GOLDEN GATE HOTEL
The city's oldest hotel, it is also know for introducing the shrimp cocktail to Las Vegas.
THE PLAZA
Formerly known as Jackie Gaughan's Plaza, this hotel was built in 1971 on the site of the original Union Pacific Railroad depot. It is also the only resort in town with a built-in Greyhound bus station, and a rooftop swimming pool that overlooks Fremont Street.
BINION'S
A Las Vegas landmark, this hotel exemplifies, and once led, the Glitter Gulch casinos of bygone days.
GOLDEN NUGGET
Downtown's largest and most elegant resort features a polished white marble facade.
FOUR QUEENS
Built in 1966, this hotel was named after the original owner's four daughters.
CALIFORNIA HOTEL
Despite its name, the hotel has a Hawaiian ambiance. Even the stuff wears aloha shirts.
FREMONT HOTEL
This is where the Midnight Idol and Vegas icon, Wayne Newton, made his singing deput.
FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE
This open-air canopy generates a spectacular light-and-sound show nightly, and protects pedestrians from the harsh sun during the day.
FITZGERALDS
This hotel has a Luck of the Irish theme with shamrocks, leprechauns, and four-leaf clovers throughout the casino. Even the hotel staff wears emerald green uniforms.
NEONOPOLIS
This multi-level mall is home to a variety of shops, eateries, nightclubs, movie theaters, and the Lost Vegas Gambling Museum. Las Vegas Escort Service.
EL CORTEZ
A friendly hotel, the El Cortez faces Fremont Street and is one of the few casinos to retain architectural features from its original 1950's building.
LAS VEGAS NEON
The neon sign remains the dominant icon of Las Vegas, despite the fact that many of the new themed mega resorts and shopping centers here have opted for a more understated look.
Neon is a gas discovered by British chemist Sir William Ramsey in 1898. But it was a French inventor, Georges Claude, who, in 1910, found that when an electric current passed through a glass tube of neon, it emitted a powerful, shimmering light.
