Track #1: U2 @ Sphere
“From the sublime to the ridiculous…that’s our job this evening,” U2 frontman Bono said on January 30 from the stage at the Sphere. The Irish band’s groundbreaking residency began last September and ends on March 2. “If you’re gonna run away with the circus, this is the big top,” he added—no doubt a reference to the interior’s 160,000 square-foot wraparound LED display.
The concert felt like The Greatest Show on Earth. It was an exhilarating mix of sound (cut like a diamond), astonishing visuals (some of which looked like a Salvador Dali painting), and the band’s uplifting idealism (expressed in songs like “Where The Streets Have No Name”).
To my mind, the show is the modern version of Andy Warhol’s influential “Exploding Plastic Inevitable,” a 1966 multi-media music extravaganza with the Velvet Underground and Nico. The quartet played their best album, “Achtung Baby,” in its entirety along with other catalog gems, plus the excellent new Vegas-centric song “Atomic City.”
Experiencing the concert, in its most epic moments, was like sitting in the middle of a giant snow globe that had just been shaken, particularly during “Even Better Than The Real Thing.”
Fortunately, there were also intimate moments, including an acoustic cover of Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” Bono punctuated the song’s sentiment by saying, “Don’t let anyone take your freedom away from you.” Ultimately, U2 absolutely owned the awe-inspiring Sphere, not the other way around.
Track #2: Palette Tea Lounge & Dim Sum @Chinatown
Driving along Spring Mountain Rd at night, the beautifully lit exterior of the new Palette Tea Lounge & Dim Sum comes commandingly into view.
Step inside the eatery (the third location of the Northern CA-originated chain) to fall under the spell of the dining room’s gorgeously playful splashes of color and creative cuisine that makes good on its boast of a “modern approach to dim sum, seafood, Cantonese roast meats, and traditional Chinese cooking.”
It was love at first bite with the pork soup dumplings (freshly made behind the glass-enclosed kitchen), the chicken pot stickers (served stuck together in a pan), the light-as-a-feather Wagyu beef fried rice, and the crispy-but-softly-textured honey walnut shrimp.
The dishes are artfully plated (especially the vegetable spring rolls); the menu is reasonably priced (compared to the Strip); and, true to its moniker, there’s a smart selection of tea, including aged chrysanthemum. Palette is more than an impressive addition to Chinatown Vegas—it’s a total winner.
Track #3: Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet @Rancho Charleston
Let the rich have the Shops at Crystals on the Strip with its stuffy atmosphere and astronomical prices. Everyone else can head to the cheery, bustling Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet just a few miles away.
Pull into the parking lot any Friday-Sunday between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm, and you’ll have a choice of 1000 free spots. Instantly take note of the swap meet’s sign that’s fun-lovingly misspelled as “Fantastik” on the cavernous 135,000-square-foot building.
Inside, there are over 600 booths of affordable merchandise, in row after dizzying row, stuffed with everything you need—or, fascinatingly, might not need.
Folks come to this unexpected wonderland (where admission is only $1.00) to look for fast-fashion clothing, hats, cheap jewelry, perfume, “designer” sunglasses, wigs, and luggage. You’ll also see lamps, musical instruments, framed paintings created by local artists, blessed herbal candles, and even a semi-hydro plant shop.
If you’re feeling edgy, perhaps walk over to the booth selling knives, stun guns, and pepper spray. Maybe you’re a fan of stimulating bad taste like I am? Ladies, fork over a few dollars for a pair of drawstring pants with newspaper headlines ridiculously printed on them.
And gents, a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Guns Don’t Kill People, Dads With Pretty Daughters Do” might speak to some of you.
Track #4: Neon Feast
Where to eat in Vegas? Which places to recommend? And in which neighborhoods? The choices here are infinite and seriously daunting. That’s where the free Neon Feast app—celebrating its second anniversary this month—comes in handy.
Launched by the acclaimed former Review-Journal food writer Al Mancini, this tool for Vegas dining is curated by “top local chefs, restaurateurs, professional journalists, critics, and influencers,” he says. “I wanted to create an online resource that was convenient to access, easy to navigate, and packed only with ‘expert’ opinions.” Hostile Yelpers—move over.
Like Neon Feast’s 33,000 unique users do each month, simply browse by type of cuisine and neighborhood, and you’ll see restaurant picks with comments from the app’s team of experts. My favorite section is the anything-goes “Picks of The Day.”
“We tell everyone about a few places, within one of those categories, that are recommended by people who take food very seriously,” explains Mancini, a local hero who’s easy to spot around town with his multi-colored Mohawk cut. He also hosts the lively “Food and Loathing” weekly podcast, pointing folks to the city’s best restaurants, chefs, and daily food happenings.
Track #5: Lucky Penny @Red Rock Casino Resort Spa
The Lucky Penny at Red Rock Casino is arguably the best example of a 24/7 Vegas hotel restaurant I’ve encountered—and it’s the one I frequent the most.
This feel-good place serves standouts like lemon-blueberry ricotta pancakes, a simple but effective Chinese chicken salad, and marvelous multi-layered chilaquiles at affordable prices in a spacious, attractive dining room with framed artwork and a soaring ceiling.
No wonder it’s a favorite with locals.
And then there’s the eatery’s super-accommodating waitstaff, who treat you like family, and the hotel’s complimentary valet parking. These things matter.
Ask for one of their big, comfy booths and settle in with a craft cocktail like the Creamsicle Mimosa. Order the crispy fish tacos or chicken parmesan and finish it with a dessert from their colorful bakery case, which greets you upon arrival.
For those who don’t want to go fully down the sweet rabbit hole, there’s a generous fresh fruit plate. Request it with a dollop of whipped cream to make it a real indulgence.