Las Vegas from a Local's Perspective: Guest Post by Alysia Chang

 

Terribly honored to be offered a chance to guest blog. Thanks Lightning!  I live in Vegas and I don't write a blog about it.  People have asked me about it and I've somehow avoided telling them the truth and shattering their image of Sin City.  I love Vegas for reasons that go beyond the naked women, debauchery and gambling.  I know, I know.  It's almost as if Vegas has this mystique that its tourist board has promoted over the years and if I actually tell them about the adorable little indie theater that shows first run Bollywood movies and the cheap taco places on the west side, I'm somehow undermining this carefully crafted façade of giant vodka spiked Icee drinks in mini plastic Eiffel Tower containers and all you can eat buffets. 

I think I avoided blogging about Vegas because well, I don't want to share the city that I have grown to adore.  Thank goodness Lightning doesn't have a bunch of followers or else this place would be overrun by folks wanting to enjoy the ballet, hike through the Valley of Fire and look at all the art around the city as well as being intrigued by the architecture and history.  Let's not even talk about Vegas being right next to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. 

Ooops.  Too late.  Okay so the cat is out of the bag.  The secret is being a Vegas local or at least taking advantage of your friends who are locals.  This is by no means a full list but it's MY list. 

* www.showtickets4locals.com    You will need a locals I.D. for this but it's sooooooo worth it.  We're talking FREE shows.  Up to like six tickets.  No, you cannot get into Celine or any of the Cirque Du Soleil shows but the level of sheer talent in Vegas is set very high so that even the crappy shows are still good.  You may have to pony up the two drink minimum but you were going to blow that money on the Big 6 wheel anyway.

* http://www.springspreserve.org/  Locals get a couple of bucks off but it's really a cool place to visit.  Right now they have BUTTERFLIES in an enclosed habitat.  You should totally bring that nephew of yours that's freaked out by butterflies and take some great video to show at his wedding down the line.  The Nevada National History Museum is located on site as well.  And they have activities for little kids like painting flower pots and cracking geodes.  Love this place!

* The Blood Mary to end all Bloody Marys is at Porchlight Grille on WEST Desert Inn Road.  http://vegasseven.com/best-city-2014/bars-booze/best-bloody-mary/  It is a SICK mofo of a monstrosity. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  And he sucks down a 25 oz. Ketel One Bloody Mary that has a LOBSTER TAIL, TRI TIP STEAK, SHRIMP, a Slim Jim, a bunch of veggies, cheese stuffed pepperoni and BACON.  

* The Regal 18 at Village Square shows foreign films.  If you need to get your Bollywood dancing shoes on, this is the place.  There is an awesome Thai restaurant (Archi's), a Japanese/Hawaiian sushi joint (808 Tapas) and a very unusual (but delish) burger place (Bachi's Burgers) that serves up some killer pork belly sandwiches.  And a Jollibee which is that bad ass Fillipino fried chicken franchise that is (IMHO) cheaper and as good as anything you'll get on the Strip.  I mean for what the Brooklyn Bowl at the Linq charges, you can totally feed your family and neighbors.

* I may be running long here but I still think the locals deal on the monorail which goes from the SLS to MGM Grand along the Strip for a buck is one of the best deals.  Non-locals pay $5 each way.  You don't mess with parking, you can get completely sh*tfaced and they're air-conditioned and run 20 hours a day.  Plus, you get to meet some interesting folks along the way.  Millie and Walter from Omaha who haven't been to Vegas in 15 years.  The hot chicks going to Hakkasan.  And all those German families (the Germans seem to really dig the monorail).