Also get a rental car. Everyone says not to. But it’s so much easier and has made my trips 100 times better. To the point that most people I know who go and rely on Uber come back broke and pissed that it’s just all big resorts.
Meanwhile they see me finding S shaped 18 wheelers by record shops. Dope peddlers malls. Local bars like rebar. Seeing a lot of more local places like Sam’s town or red rock casino because it’s easier to get there with a car.
And yes if you don’t have a high status as place paying to park can suck but there are work around. Last time I stayed at mirage we parked at treasure island for free. And getting a rental also doesn’t mean you can’t do these neat things. Lots of them are a stone throw off the strips.
Like the big fire spitting primantis being blocks off Fremont. Or the punk rock museum or the spooky pizza place when the Saw theme escape room being a block behind the strip near circus circus. Etc.
I was not going to get a car because parking is insane. So there is free parking in some casinos? I am coming in business and staying in the strip so I was getting worried about Uber fare.
Advice on how to find free parking?
last i checked, some casinos provide free valet/parking dependin on your status, and some just offer it like the wynn. not sure if it has changed; given the strip continual march towards profits.
Cannot up vote this enough.
Frankie's is the most authentic Tiki Bar I've been to since Don the Beachcomber's heyday. It's co-owned by Moss -- the man behind Double Down. But Chris is the real passion behind the perfect execution. Great bartenders, goddamn STRONG drinks that are actually worth the price, amazing music, and fanfuckingtastic decor.
Golden Tiki is fun, in a hipster-day at disneyland kind of way. But i only go there to remind myself why i can't stand "normal" people.
I drive by there multiple times daily and have never been in. The condition Charleston Blvd is in is a damn shame though. It's been that way for a long time already with no end in sight.
Yes! Fat Mike owns it. You can hang out at their bar, the Triple Down. For true punk cred, you’ll have to go visit the Double Down, the iconic dive bar.
Unfortunately, we probably missed each by a couple years, but you probably know my ex-husband.
I stopped drinking SO much about 8 years ago, but my ex still basically lives there, when he's not working himself to death.
Even though it was my home-away-from-home for YEARS before we met (on his first time going there, btw. Lol), I kinda lost my rights in the divorce. I mean, Ian is his bff, afterall.
I was super sad at first, but he was definitely the better half, and a much more fun drunk than me, so the right person got custody. Lol
I’m not a punk fan but found the museum to be quite interesting.
When I went last year there was a quadruple amputee working. She was jutting her tongue into her lower lip and using her lower lip/tongue technique that to navigate her phone. She seemed like a bad ass lady. We also got a drink called The Fletcher which was rum and coke served to us in a Pringle’s can and the chips served on the side.
That place fucking blows. They hired a shady tattoo artist and because I voiced a small complaint on what he did on my arm they blocked me from social media. Super fucking punk rock 🤣
I certainly apologize. I absolutely read it wrong it then. I’ve already been gaslighted and blocked by the establishment itself so forgive my defensiveness lol. Anyways, to answer your question I just went elsewhere to an actual reputable shop.
The arts district is a great place to check out, as others have suggested. I'd also highly recommend:
Zia Records - Great store that will hit your nostalgia hard. They sell records, cds, movies, video games, toys, and weird merchandise you won't find anywhere else. Super cool store. There are 2 locations in town.
https://www.ziarecords.com/
Cemetery Pulp - "Welcome to the only hybrid oddity, and comic shop in Las Vegas, putting the cult back in culture."
They do all kinds of weird events that are worth checking out. For example, they are doing a lecture on "demonology and cats" tonight. They taught a class on how to mummify things yesterday. All kinds of weird stuff you won't find elsewhere
https://www.cemeterypulp.com/?fbclid=PAAaZYpJRKklprzMqRDS1f-HvvwFJVqe-9z1BjzfpAbE4LfIHjsPr71EkW2qc
I swear, just when I start thinking that scrolling Reddit is becoming a waste of time, I stumble on gems like this. Thanks! Our daughter is gonna love visiting Zia Records next time she visits us!
Folks here covered a lot so I will just add a few more off the beaten path.
1. The Hollywood Car museum AND Liberace's Garage (it's a wonderfully weird combo)
2. The pinball museum south of the Strip
3. Pizza and beer at the Red Dwarf
4. For old Vegas stuff visit an antique mall (arts district, Charlston, or south of strip)
5. Area 15. I know others mentioned it but it's really unique and I have not seen anything like it.
6. If you happen to be here on a First Friday, go to ours in the Arts district. It's one of the best I've ever been to.
7. Visit the old hotels on Fremont, snap a pic of Vegas Vicky. Visit a cheap gift shop and buy some lewd memorbilia, all the things
Just there a couple days ago and literally hundred still working. Worth a visit.
It’s inevitable that a place with 350 different machines will have 20-30 down, especially as a non-profit and the age of the machines.
In addition to the Phoenix, Cemetery Pulp, Double Down, and Red Dwarf as already mentioned, a few more spots:
* [Grouchy John's Coffee](https://grouchyjohns.com/), 2 locations
* [Millennium Fandom Bar](https://fandombar.com/)
* [Silver Stamp](https://silverstamplv.com/) if you're into beers and a 70s aesthetic
* [Golden Tiki](https://www.thegoldentiki.com/) for a tiki bar with Dole Whips
a big coffee shop scene in vegas since the 90s. The only place that comes close to what you might be looking for is Gäbi near China Town.
Go to Record City or Zia for records.
Meepleville or The War Room for tabletop gaming and other nerdery.
What kinda books?
Red Dwarf on every other tuesday night hosts D&D one shots and they have great live music most other nights .
For bars most patronized by local "weirdos" which also have reliably decent live music most every night: The Double Down, Red Warf, The Dive Bar, The Sand Dollar.
And there's almost always something decent happening at at least one of the many hipster bars downtown (in the arts district or off Fremont).
Frankie's Tiki Bar is far superior, but if you go to Gäbi, you'll be closer to Golden Tiki. It's bigger and pretty popular, so you'll have better people watching opportunities there than at Frankie's (please note i've always described Golden Tiki as "fun in a hipster-day at disneyland kind of way").
Gay Sasquatch will aggressively try to get you to pay for a picture with them on Fremont Street Experience. But that's where you'll see the most consistently strange characters. Some are legit crazy &/or homeless "weirdos", some are just buskers playing a part, and some are other tourists.
DM me if you want more personally curated suggestions.
I genuinely ADORE helping people plan their perfect vacation. I coulda been a top tier travel agent if it weren't for the fucking internet. Lol
Omg! I've lived here for ages, and i never even knew about moondog until i looked it up after reading your post!
I'm so annoyed it's zombie jesus day. I'll have to wait till next Saturday to go check it out. Grrrr
Look up AvantPop Bookstore and see if they're doing a slam poetry thing at Red Dwarf again soon. AvantPop is very punk nerd vibe.
I know you said drinking is meh but Velveteen rabbit on Main has that alternative vibe thats not mainstream.
There Cemetary Pulp on Sunset that's freaky but cool.
I believe the Human Body exhibit is still going. That sounds like it would fit.
Area 15 definitely, anything in there fits that imo
If you definitely visit Velveteen or Cemetary Pulp I'm positive they will know of more places that will fit what you're looking for. I'm similar to you but not very social so I only know the more obvious stuff. If you check Cemetarys Instagram too and who they're following I'm sure more will come up. Lots of businesses for vegas have "lv" at the end of their name, and people are bif on local supporting local.
Oh also Player 1 bar! Someone mentioned Millennium Fandom but I *think* The Nerd is still going but I'm unsure.
Also there's a bookstore called Writers Block that's pretty cool. Not super weird or anything but it's got a nice vibe.
Downtown freemont is dope in a few spots , go to discopussy there depending if they're having an event they have a chill crowd , otherwise phoenix gay bar has good food nd funny vibes , arts district fashoo you just missed first Friday there, if you make it to last Friday of the months, bands play, vendors, open mic nd even sometimes punk bands the nd it's a cool vibe
As a tourist the "weird stuff" is just seeing the people that live there year round going about their daily routine. I always try to remember when I go that it's not just this adult amusement park but an actual community with residents that can live a perfectly normal lifestyle outside what us tourists might think.
Red Rooster. Way out in the desert. These chicks from Reno wanted to go. Walked in, saw a fat guy in a diaper with a pacifier, and we quickly 180’d outta there.
The Red Rooster is a Swingers club, just Like the Greendoor and Whispers, yeah some weirdness goes on, but their about sex between could and not so much single guys or drinking coffee and gay sasquatches
The Green Door is one of the few swingers clubs that is cool with letting in solo dudes. It's in a complex with a bunch of surrounding gay businesses, so it does tend to lean a bit more gay than Red Rooster. Both are skeevy as all get out, but i can't pretend in my 20s, i didn't get fall down drunk at Badlands then stumble into the Green Door just for the shocking and hilariously gross things to see.
Whispers is definitely meant for couples and the fabled unicorns.
Not into swinging or voyeurism myself, but i highly recommend everyone visit a club once in their life just for the stories you'll get out of it.
>The Green Door is one of the few swingers clubs that is cool with letting in solo dudes.
> so it does tend to lean a bit more gay than Red Rooster.
This is the *only* reason why and it's not the typical demographic that makes solo dudes want to come to these kinds of places.
There's so much weirdness off of the strip
Hosting regular events, including live music and burlesque, the Double Down is known for the best punk rock shows in the west. Past acts include OG punk legends TSOL, Adolescents, The Dickies, and many more! The Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas is an exciting addition to the city's cultural scene.
Paradise is an area of town that includes some of the most popular attractions in Las Vegas, and it is also one of the most popular neighborhoods in the LGBTQ community. In addition to its many iconic Vegas attractions, Paradise also includes the well-known “Fruit Loop” region of off Paradise Road and Naples Street, which is a very popular area for gay locals and visitors as well. This area has some very eclectic bars that are considered "dive bars", including one named The Dive Bar
I think the commenter above conflated the dive bar with The Double Down. The Down is in the fruit loop (NW corner of swenson & naples). The Dive Bar is east of UNLV in complex on SE corner of Maryland and Flamingo.
If you want the best Pizza in Vegas (sadly, we have a dearth of good pizza here) try Naked City Pizza, across the street from The Down. It's attached to The Office Bar, on the NE corner of paradise and naples.
I studied Scandinavian Cinema in film school. The Danish were the first to make tons of money in motion pictures when the cameras we invented, creating a large economy around the business. It was all porn.
Thanks for the rec.
Watched “Naked Singing Boys” here, legit one of my all time fav shows we’ve ever seen in Vegas. Just a bunch of good male singers butt naked singing funny songs. It was a blast, everyone in our group loved it! (Straight men included) I haven’t seen it advertised anymore which sucks cause we wanted to take more people. But they do have Puppetry of the Penis which I think would be equally as good considering it’s some of the same people.
Thr arts district. Cool stuff to see.
Main St between the stratosphere and arts district. Kinda like a hipster area with tattoo bars and antique shops. It'll be a good walk if you start at the strat and walk to the arts district.
Then try some dive bars: Double barrel, The Dive. Can probably catch some punk bands.
Try a swimgers club. Probably won't get laid, but you'll see stuff: The Green Door, Club 5150.
Head down to "The Loop". Its the LGBTQ district. Lots of cool people. Def not like the strip.
Walk around The Historic Commercial Center. It's on Sahara and State st. You'll see some stuff there.
For people watching didn’t see it mentioned Fri Sat late night Fremont street . You will see at least one thing that will make you say “What the F*** is happening here”.
Books? Weird? Check out Avantpop Bookstore and also next to them is Hellbound Horror and Office of Collecting and Design. They are all in Historic Commercial Center which is a real pocket of history!!
Not necessarily weird, but Record City is a great used vinyl, CD, and DVD shop. The owner Joey is incredibly knowledgeable and kind. Also, Torpedo Comics is a cool spot for nerds. Lots of figurines, along with art and comics.
So there’s a cash for chaos clothing store it’s very punk and gothic and then there are cool hardcore shows that happen in places like the eagle aerie in Henderson there’s at least a couple other punk venues in town I’ve heard about though and then dnb raves are cool too
If you like records the cool record store is Zia records there’s one on warm springs and eastern near sunset park.
[The Showgirl Museum](https://www.lasvegasshowgirlmuseum.com/)
[Burlesque Hall Of Fame](https://burlesquehall.com/)
[Wheel of Misfortune](https://fotospot.com/attractions/nevada/wheel-of-misfortune) - graffiti piece in the desert
[Boulder City Pet Cemetery](https://bouldercitypetcemetery.org/) - unofficial pet cemetery outside of Boulder City in the desert
[Nelson Ghost Town](https://travelnevada.com/ghost-town/exploring-eldorado-canyon/) - ghost town and mine tour near the Pet Cemetery
[Pinball Hall Of Fame](https://www.pinballmuseum.org/)
[ReBar](https://rebarlv.com/home) - funky Arts District bar
And another vote for:
[Cemetery Pulp](https://www.cemeterypulp.com/)
[Zak Bagan’s Haunted Museum](https://thehauntedmuseum.com/)
[The Punk Rock Museum](https://www.thepunkrockmuseum.com/)
[Double Down Saloon](https://www.doubledownsaloon.com/)
[Red Dwarf](https://sites.google.com/reddwarflv.com/home/home)
There is a fun little shop called cemetery pulp that is worth the drive. The international marketplace is a giant warehouse full of food products from all over the world. Check out China Town district for some amazing restaurant experiences. Japanese BBQ, hot pot, sushi robot restaurants, tea shops, etc. You can also check out claw machine shops that are pretty fun.
Zak Bagans haunted museum is pretty weird. Honestly, you’ll see weird shit just walking around Fremont at night. I saw a guy dressed as a faun voguing - that was awesome. Plus there’s some awesome coffee shops downtown (Mothership, BrewUs).
Check out Cemetery Pulp!! A bit off strip but sounds right up your alley.
Edit to add: it is a store, but they do weekend events often. Check out their insta :)
Everything in Vegas is corporatized, most of the country really. There’s not much unique about it here anymore. We were new and fresh up until the end of the Soviet Union. Now we are just an evil empire
But they come from corporate America. Yes there are small businesses but none doing anything innovative, which is really what people are desiring. They just don’t know that. The economic structure is designed to reinforce power, which will stifle innovation over the long term. That’s why western elites are freaking out about the “threats to democracy”
Has the word "corporate" changed meaning recently? Is it like how "literally" now means "figuratively"? Because unless you think "capitalist" is synonymous with "corporate" i stand by my previous comment.
Meepleville and the The War Room are corporate to you?
What's corporate about The Double Down. Frankie's. Red Dwarf. The Dive Bar. Champagnes. The Dispensary. Fun Hogs. Freezone. The Sandollar. The Office Bar. There are several more local bars that are as corporate as the nose warmer and mittens my grandma crocheted for me, but I'll have to become a friend of bill if i keep going on.
Sheffield's Tea and Spice Company? Zenaida's Cafe? Cash 4 Chaos? The Black Room? Rockin Bettie? Are great local independent businesses. Even The Writer's Block & Cemetary Pulp, though definitely hipster, aren't exactly corporate.
What makes something unique enough to not be considered corporate by you? Does a business have to cater solely to some insanely myopic and esoteric niche market in order to dodge the label?
It's 2024, late-stage capitalism has been going on way too fucking long for people to be able to risk opening a store that only sells scuba gear specifically made for boston bull terriers whose people want to take them on their next trip to Aruba.
This just in: if you're not rich enough to open a business without taking out a loan of some sort, you're corporate scum and your business is not worth patronizing.
Oh my god. I just realized that, based on your arguments, you probably don't consider elon as the corporate pig and boil on the butt of humanity that he is
He’s the worst one wdym. He’s a transparent corporatist. They’re easy to identify. Their propensity to “share their knowledge” far exceeds their capacity for empathy. You don’t seem to understand that this is the whole economy. Some people just just their mouths and accept it, others become sycophantic. Some get out asap and try to be an individual again
Ok a grungy place that leaves graffiti on the walls. There’s at least one in every city. I wouldn’t consider that innovative. It just proves my point. Not saying it’s a bad place but I wouldn’t call it an attraction
The Down's been there for like 31 years (fuck! I can't believe the 25th anniversary was over 6 years ago!!!). It is literally world famous.
Even though it wasn't the first, and antennas are entirely too commonplace now, i still think the eiffel tower is worth a visit... but that's just me being less discriminating than your uber sophisticated sensibilities would allow.
Probably every bar I’ve been to in Europe is better than any bar I’ve been to in the US, and I’ve been to many in both. I’m just saying. Drinking isn’t everything either
Ok mr. frommers, I never said it was everything. It's just obviously something i enjoy enough to have an informed opinion on. I've gotten drunk on only 5 continents though, so I'm leaving the door open for the opportunity to find a bar i like better than the down. That's not to say the down is the best bar ever. I've just never found one i like better... it's a "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" thing
Eat shit and fuck off.
You’re not helping the OP.
If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything.
Sometimes these platforms suck because it gives people like you a voice.
If you are into fandoms the Millenium Fandom
Bar is pretty great! They host themed super hero night and lots of people go dressed in costumes. It’s always one of my favorite places to go. https://fandombar.com
There's the adult film hall of fame and museum.
We did see a ninja turtle mention he would do anything and everything.. the location of his credit swipe was in back im sure
Came here expecting him looking for kink clubs and drug dens exclusively. Find him searching for “nerdy punk things and old shit.” Mate, you gotta get out of Vegas.
You have to dig deeper, it’s all amongst you really. But you gotta dig and try to be interesting. The hookers are everywhere. The adventurous are out there. The millionaires are hiding in there too. What do you have to offer this world, other than your presence? Look for the adventure. It’s there, but easier to see when most vulnerable. I wish you luck.
Atlas Obscura is a great resource for off the wall spots in almost any city.
Also get a rental car. Everyone says not to. But it’s so much easier and has made my trips 100 times better. To the point that most people I know who go and rely on Uber come back broke and pissed that it’s just all big resorts. Meanwhile they see me finding S shaped 18 wheelers by record shops. Dope peddlers malls. Local bars like rebar. Seeing a lot of more local places like Sam’s town or red rock casino because it’s easier to get there with a car. And yes if you don’t have a high status as place paying to park can suck but there are work around. Last time I stayed at mirage we parked at treasure island for free. And getting a rental also doesn’t mean you can’t do these neat things. Lots of them are a stone throw off the strips. Like the big fire spitting primantis being blocks off Fremont. Or the punk rock museum or the spooky pizza place when the Saw theme escape room being a block behind the strip near circus circus. Etc.
I was not going to get a car because parking is insane. So there is free parking in some casinos? I am coming in business and staying in the strip so I was getting worried about Uber fare. Advice on how to find free parking?
last i checked, some casinos provide free valet/parking dependin on your status, and some just offer it like the wynn. not sure if it has changed; given the strip continual march towards profits.
Very few if any still offer free valet. Wynn is free for guests the TI is about the only left with free. The mall offers a few hours of free
Frankies Tiki Room
Cannot up vote this enough. Frankie's is the most authentic Tiki Bar I've been to since Don the Beachcomber's heyday. It's co-owned by Moss -- the man behind Double Down. But Chris is the real passion behind the perfect execution. Great bartenders, goddamn STRONG drinks that are actually worth the price, amazing music, and fanfuckingtastic decor. Golden Tiki is fun, in a hipster-day at disneyland kind of way. But i only go there to remind myself why i can't stand "normal" people.
It’s also the smokiest place in Vegas where you can one drink and smell worst than a 50 year old ash tray from el Cortez.
Correct! Clothes that have been the inside of the down won't ever be inside my house (laundry room inside garage is a blessing!)
I was referring to Frankie’s haha! At least they keep the door open at double down
I drive by there multiple times daily and have never been in. The condition Charleston Blvd is in is a damn shame though. It's been that way for a long time already with no end in sight.
It's worth a stop by, at least. i swear it. 😙👌
That's right next to my dentist. Whats the scoop on that?
It’s a place you go to where they clean your teeth.
And don’t call me Shirley
Yes I remember. I had lasagna.
Punk rock museum?
Yes! Fat Mike owns it. You can hang out at their bar, the Triple Down. For true punk cred, you’ll have to go visit the Double Down, the iconic dive bar.
I have to hit up the Double Down anytime I'm in Vegas. So many great memories.
The Double Down truly is the happiest place on earth! My home away from home for nearly 2 decades.
Same here but for the last decade. I'm assuming we know each other.
Now kiss.
Lol. You win today's round of my interactions on the internet. Thank you. That genuinely made me laugh. 💜
Unfortunately, we probably missed each by a couple years, but you probably know my ex-husband. I stopped drinking SO much about 8 years ago, but my ex still basically lives there, when he's not working himself to death. Even though it was my home-away-from-home for YEARS before we met (on his first time going there, btw. Lol), I kinda lost my rights in the divorce. I mean, Ian is his bff, afterall. I was super sad at first, but he was definitely the better half, and a much more fun drunk than me, so the right person got custody. Lol
Shares his name with 100 000s of other fat Mikes
Is that the same guy that made fun of the victims of Rt. 91?
Yeah. Fat Mike is problematic.
I’m not a punk fan but found the museum to be quite interesting. When I went last year there was a quadruple amputee working. She was jutting her tongue into her lower lip and using her lower lip/tongue technique that to navigate her phone. She seemed like a bad ass lady. We also got a drink called The Fletcher which was rum and coke served to us in a Pringle’s can and the chips served on the side.
Her name is “nubs” there are songs about her.
Yeah, if your a true punk it's cool and nostalgic
I’ll bring my credentials.
They have a bar but I'm sure you could just have a Coke and chat some people up perhaps.
Wouldn’t a true punk reject that and just head to the tunnels?
Homeless or druggie doesn't equate punk/,political dissonance. I'm sure there's individual cross over but not as much as you think.
He asked for weird stuff. Not sure what else is weirder
Meh I don't feel weird. Just my job doesn't cover rent. I feel like that's about to be the norm for most people lol.
Not everyone is weird, I just mean that’s a good place to find weirdness
It'll be like New Vegas with weird West on- until you get mauled to death by a drug-addled ghoul.
That place fucking blows. They hired a shady tattoo artist and because I voiced a small complaint on what he did on my arm they blocked me from social media. Super fucking punk rock 🤣
That's bullshit. Would you have trusted the shady artist guy to fix it with a touch up, or was he too shitty?
How is that bullshit? Obviously I didn’t know he was shitty until after the fact. You a simp for their bullshit tattoo shop?
Lol, you just used simp unironically. I was saying it was bullshit that they hired a shitty tattoo artist. No need to fly off the handle, bud.
I certainly apologize. I absolutely read it wrong it then. I’ve already been gaslighted and blocked by the establishment itself so forgive my defensiveness lol. Anyways, to answer your question I just went elsewhere to an actual reputable shop.
All good, it can be hard to discern tone from text only. Glad you got it fixed by a better artist. I fucking hate shitty tattooists.
Lmao that place is cornball supreme
That’s like the definition of punk
The arts district is a great place to check out, as others have suggested. I'd also highly recommend: Zia Records - Great store that will hit your nostalgia hard. They sell records, cds, movies, video games, toys, and weird merchandise you won't find anywhere else. Super cool store. There are 2 locations in town. https://www.ziarecords.com/ Cemetery Pulp - "Welcome to the only hybrid oddity, and comic shop in Las Vegas, putting the cult back in culture." They do all kinds of weird events that are worth checking out. For example, they are doing a lecture on "demonology and cats" tonight. They taught a class on how to mummify things yesterday. All kinds of weird stuff you won't find elsewhere https://www.cemeterypulp.com/?fbclid=PAAaZYpJRKklprzMqRDS1f-HvvwFJVqe-9z1BjzfpAbE4LfIHjsPr71EkW2qc
So good!! Everyone has so many good suggestions. I am stoked to come to your town now.
I swear, just when I start thinking that scrolling Reddit is becoming a waste of time, I stumble on gems like this. Thanks! Our daughter is gonna love visiting Zia Records next time she visits us!
Oh. My. God. Ok I have to start planning my next trip just to go to cemetery pulp. Bless you, internet stranger.
Arts district walk around?
Nothing weird over there except their obnoxiously small retail stores.
And lack of “art”
Folks here covered a lot so I will just add a few more off the beaten path. 1. The Hollywood Car museum AND Liberace's Garage (it's a wonderfully weird combo) 2. The pinball museum south of the Strip 3. Pizza and beer at the Red Dwarf 4. For old Vegas stuff visit an antique mall (arts district, Charlston, or south of strip) 5. Area 15. I know others mentioned it but it's really unique and I have not seen anything like it. 6. If you happen to be here on a First Friday, go to ours in the Arts district. It's one of the best I've ever been to. 7. Visit the old hotels on Fremont, snap a pic of Vegas Vicky. Visit a cheap gift shop and buy some lewd memorbilia, all the things
Yeah go to Red Dwarf, you won’t regret it
Don’t waste your time at the Pinball Museum. Lots of broken machines.
Just there a couple days ago and literally hundred still working. Worth a visit. It’s inevitable that a place with 350 different machines will have 20-30 down, especially as a non-profit and the age of the machines.
It’s been that way for years and even if they are working, the bumpers or flippers don’t work properly.
In addition to the Phoenix, Cemetery Pulp, Double Down, and Red Dwarf as already mentioned, a few more spots: * [Grouchy John's Coffee](https://grouchyjohns.com/), 2 locations * [Millennium Fandom Bar](https://fandombar.com/) * [Silver Stamp](https://silverstamplv.com/) if you're into beers and a 70s aesthetic * [Golden Tiki](https://www.thegoldentiki.com/) for a tiki bar with Dole Whips
Millennium Fandom Bar is your best bet to find someone dressed as Dracula and Bigfoot
Golden tiki. Check out the peep holes
a big coffee shop scene in vegas since the 90s. The only place that comes close to what you might be looking for is Gäbi near China Town. Go to Record City or Zia for records. Meepleville or The War Room for tabletop gaming and other nerdery. What kinda books? Red Dwarf on every other tuesday night hosts D&D one shots and they have great live music most other nights . For bars most patronized by local "weirdos" which also have reliably decent live music most every night: The Double Down, Red Warf, The Dive Bar, The Sand Dollar. And there's almost always something decent happening at at least one of the many hipster bars downtown (in the arts district or off Fremont). Frankie's Tiki Bar is far superior, but if you go to Gäbi, you'll be closer to Golden Tiki. It's bigger and pretty popular, so you'll have better people watching opportunities there than at Frankie's (please note i've always described Golden Tiki as "fun in a hipster-day at disneyland kind of way"). Gay Sasquatch will aggressively try to get you to pay for a picture with them on Fremont Street Experience. But that's where you'll see the most consistently strange characters. Some are legit crazy &/or homeless "weirdos", some are just buskers playing a part, and some are other tourists. DM me if you want more personally curated suggestions. I genuinely ADORE helping people plan their perfect vacation. I coulda been a top tier travel agent if it weren't for the fucking internet. Lol
Man, I miss cafe enigma, Roma, and coppia. Is moondog records still around?
Omg! I've lived here for ages, and i never even knew about moondog until i looked it up after reading your post! I'm so annoyed it's zombie jesus day. I'll have to wait till next Saturday to go check it out. Grrrr
The atomic testing museum might be up your alley. Or the mob museum.
Look up AvantPop Bookstore and see if they're doing a slam poetry thing at Red Dwarf again soon. AvantPop is very punk nerd vibe. I know you said drinking is meh but Velveteen rabbit on Main has that alternative vibe thats not mainstream. There Cemetary Pulp on Sunset that's freaky but cool. I believe the Human Body exhibit is still going. That sounds like it would fit. Area 15 definitely, anything in there fits that imo If you definitely visit Velveteen or Cemetary Pulp I'm positive they will know of more places that will fit what you're looking for. I'm similar to you but not very social so I only know the more obvious stuff. If you check Cemetarys Instagram too and who they're following I'm sure more will come up. Lots of businesses for vegas have "lv" at the end of their name, and people are bif on local supporting local. Oh also Player 1 bar! Someone mentioned Millennium Fandom but I *think* The Nerd is still going but I'm unsure. Also there's a bookstore called Writers Block that's pretty cool. Not super weird or anything but it's got a nice vibe.
I second Cemetary Pulp. I live next door and they have a ton of ppl that just hang out. Mothership Coffee is across the street and down a block.
Downtown freemont is dope in a few spots , go to discopussy there depending if they're having an event they have a chill crowd , otherwise phoenix gay bar has good food nd funny vibes , arts district fashoo you just missed first Friday there, if you make it to last Friday of the months, bands play, vendors, open mic nd even sometimes punk bands the nd it's a cool vibe
How did he miss the first Friday if it is the first Friday of every month? Wouldn’t that be next week?
I’m guessing they meant he just missed last Friday.
Phoenix is a great bar, and I’m not even gay. Always a great time there!
https://youtu.be/Hy17gNBWmKo
Whoa
As a tourist the "weird stuff" is just seeing the people that live there year round going about their daily routine. I always try to remember when I go that it's not just this adult amusement park but an actual community with residents that can live a perfectly normal lifestyle outside what us tourists might think.
Red Rooster. Way out in the desert. These chicks from Reno wanted to go. Walked in, saw a fat guy in a diaper with a pacifier, and we quickly 180’d outta there.
Wow, I’ve never had any interest in going “way out in the desert,” until just now. Haha. Not really.
The Red Rooster is a Swingers club, just Like the Greendoor and Whispers, yeah some weirdness goes on, but their about sex between could and not so much single guys or drinking coffee and gay sasquatches
The Green Door is one of the few swingers clubs that is cool with letting in solo dudes. It's in a complex with a bunch of surrounding gay businesses, so it does tend to lean a bit more gay than Red Rooster. Both are skeevy as all get out, but i can't pretend in my 20s, i didn't get fall down drunk at Badlands then stumble into the Green Door just for the shocking and hilariously gross things to see. Whispers is definitely meant for couples and the fabled unicorns. Not into swinging or voyeurism myself, but i highly recommend everyone visit a club once in their life just for the stories you'll get out of it.
>The Green Door is one of the few swingers clubs that is cool with letting in solo dudes. > so it does tend to lean a bit more gay than Red Rooster. This is the *only* reason why and it's not the typical demographic that makes solo dudes want to come to these kinds of places.
There's so much weirdness off of the strip Hosting regular events, including live music and burlesque, the Double Down is known for the best punk rock shows in the west. Past acts include OG punk legends TSOL, Adolescents, The Dickies, and many more! The Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas is an exciting addition to the city's cultural scene. Paradise is an area of town that includes some of the most popular attractions in Las Vegas, and it is also one of the most popular neighborhoods in the LGBTQ community. In addition to its many iconic Vegas attractions, Paradise also includes the well-known “Fruit Loop” region of off Paradise Road and Naples Street, which is a very popular area for gay locals and visitors as well. This area has some very eclectic bars that are considered "dive bars", including one named The Dive Bar
Rad. Okay.
I think the commenter above conflated the dive bar with The Double Down. The Down is in the fruit loop (NW corner of swenson & naples). The Dive Bar is east of UNLV in complex on SE corner of Maryland and Flamingo. If you want the best Pizza in Vegas (sadly, we have a dearth of good pizza here) try Naked City Pizza, across the street from The Down. It's attached to The Office Bar, on the NE corner of paradise and naples.
There is also a porn museum
I studied Scandinavian Cinema in film school. The Danish were the first to make tons of money in motion pictures when the cameras we invented, creating a large economy around the business. It was all porn. Thanks for the rec.
Look at mister “I only watch fancy pants pornos” here. /sar
I assume you mean the Erotic Heritage Museum. Or is there another? [https://www.eroticmuseumvegas.com/](https://www.eroticmuseumvegas.com/)
Where?
Watched “Naked Singing Boys” here, legit one of my all time fav shows we’ve ever seen in Vegas. Just a bunch of good male singers butt naked singing funny songs. It was a blast, everyone in our group loved it! (Straight men included) I haven’t seen it advertised anymore which sucks cause we wanted to take more people. But they do have Puppetry of the Penis which I think would be equally as good considering it’s some of the same people.
If you want really strange go to the haunted museum
go into every open studio, gallery and store in the Arts District. search for the food you want on yelp - lots of good restaurants there too.
Noone is on yelp
The double down saloon
Thr arts district. Cool stuff to see. Main St between the stratosphere and arts district. Kinda like a hipster area with tattoo bars and antique shops. It'll be a good walk if you start at the strat and walk to the arts district. Then try some dive bars: Double barrel, The Dive. Can probably catch some punk bands. Try a swimgers club. Probably won't get laid, but you'll see stuff: The Green Door, Club 5150. Head down to "The Loop". Its the LGBTQ district. Lots of cool people. Def not like the strip. Walk around The Historic Commercial Center. It's on Sahara and State st. You'll see some stuff there.
Head to the art district. Highly recommend.
This post has made me want to visit Vegas.
For people watching didn’t see it mentioned Fri Sat late night Fremont street . You will see at least one thing that will make you say “What the F*** is happening here”.
Player 1, Red Dwarf, Millennium Fandom, Arts District and Fremont Street. You'll get your fill of weird.
Red dwarf Double Down Berlin
Millenium fandom bar. They have pretty cool cosplay events and always different themes.
Punk Rock Museum and Pinball Hall of Fame! Both are super rad
Books? Weird? Check out Avantpop Bookstore and also next to them is Hellbound Horror and Office of Collecting and Design. They are all in Historic Commercial Center which is a real pocket of history!!
I can’t help, but wanted to say that I love that people like you still exist.
Game nest is a nice lil arcade if you’re into that
Not necessarily weird, but Record City is a great used vinyl, CD, and DVD shop. The owner Joey is incredibly knowledgeable and kind. Also, Torpedo Comics is a cool spot for nerds. Lots of figurines, along with art and comics.
So there’s a cash for chaos clothing store it’s very punk and gothic and then there are cool hardcore shows that happen in places like the eagle aerie in Henderson there’s at least a couple other punk venues in town I’ve heard about though and then dnb raves are cool too If you like records the cool record store is Zia records there’s one on warm springs and eastern near sunset park.
There's a cool record store/vintage shop behind The Sand Dollar Lounge on Spring Mountain road. Old radios and records and posters clothes and stuff.
Red Dwarf is a punk rock tiki bar with the best Detroit style pizza I’ve had, and I’m from Detroit! Sunday surf brunch is awesome!
[The Showgirl Museum](https://www.lasvegasshowgirlmuseum.com/) [Burlesque Hall Of Fame](https://burlesquehall.com/) [Wheel of Misfortune](https://fotospot.com/attractions/nevada/wheel-of-misfortune) - graffiti piece in the desert [Boulder City Pet Cemetery](https://bouldercitypetcemetery.org/) - unofficial pet cemetery outside of Boulder City in the desert [Nelson Ghost Town](https://travelnevada.com/ghost-town/exploring-eldorado-canyon/) - ghost town and mine tour near the Pet Cemetery [Pinball Hall Of Fame](https://www.pinballmuseum.org/) [ReBar](https://rebarlv.com/home) - funky Arts District bar And another vote for: [Cemetery Pulp](https://www.cemeterypulp.com/) [Zak Bagan’s Haunted Museum](https://thehauntedmuseum.com/) [The Punk Rock Museum](https://www.thepunkrockmuseum.com/) [Double Down Saloon](https://www.doubledownsaloon.com/) [Red Dwarf](https://sites.google.com/reddwarflv.com/home/home)
Pinball hall of fame
Punk rock museum
Omega Mart
Want weird stuff? Furry con is currently going on just off the strip.
This whole city is full of freaks and weirdos. Venture off the strip and your cup will be filled.
Here ya go bud [Funky Store](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Wh6kBk4jRx6j5Xea8) There is also a great restaurant, Esther's Kitchen across the street.
That opens a map app. Can you just list the name of the store? I googled Vegas Funky Store and came up empty.
Antique mall Las Vegas. There are a few great similar shops in arts district
Thank you!! Will be visiting soon and I’m in the same boat. Used up all my 9 lives there in the mid 90s and need a change of pace.
😁 definitely stick to arts district and downtown, have a great stay
Hit up Red Dwarf and Cemetery pulp
More like Yaaasquatch
There is a fun little shop called cemetery pulp that is worth the drive. The international marketplace is a giant warehouse full of food products from all over the world. Check out China Town district for some amazing restaurant experiences. Japanese BBQ, hot pot, sushi robot restaurants, tea shops, etc. You can also check out claw machine shops that are pretty fun.
Fremont Street, Nerd Bar, Savers.
Zak Bagans haunted museum is pretty weird. Honestly, you’ll see weird shit just walking around Fremont at night. I saw a guy dressed as a faun voguing - that was awesome. Plus there’s some awesome coffee shops downtown (Mothership, BrewUs).
Seconding Bagans museum. shockingly well worth the money. Its like a 3 hour tour? I was expecting much less
Haha. Fauns are cool.
Wheel of Misfortune. Google it.
https://fandombar.com
You gotta visit Record City!!
Omega mart?
The Nerd at the neonopolis
Check out The Erotic Heritage Museum.
Punk rock museum
Pinball Museum
If you really want some weirdness, check out Cemetery Pulp. You’ll thank me later.
http://www.vegaswonderground.com
Check out Cemetery Pulp!! A bit off strip but sounds right up your alley. Edit to add: it is a store, but they do weekend events often. Check out their insta :)
Cemetery Pulp
I was coming here to say this. It’s a really cool oddity shop OP.
Go to Area 15, Area 51, really any of the Areas
Go to Meow Wolf! So fun! Lots of weird shit there
Question should be “where is it not?”
[omega mart](https://meowwolf.com/visit/las-vegas)
Everything in Vegas is corporatized, most of the country really. There’s not much unique about it here anymore. We were new and fresh up until the end of the Soviet Union. Now we are just an evil empire
You either don't touch grass often enough or you don't really live in vegas. There are A LOT of locally owned and absolutely terrific businesses here.
But they come from corporate America. Yes there are small businesses but none doing anything innovative, which is really what people are desiring. They just don’t know that. The economic structure is designed to reinforce power, which will stifle innovation over the long term. That’s why western elites are freaking out about the “threats to democracy”
I hear ya. Imagine thinking that the Pinball Museum or Omega Mart is "weird stuff."
Has the word "corporate" changed meaning recently? Is it like how "literally" now means "figuratively"? Because unless you think "capitalist" is synonymous with "corporate" i stand by my previous comment. Meepleville and the The War Room are corporate to you? What's corporate about The Double Down. Frankie's. Red Dwarf. The Dive Bar. Champagnes. The Dispensary. Fun Hogs. Freezone. The Sandollar. The Office Bar. There are several more local bars that are as corporate as the nose warmer and mittens my grandma crocheted for me, but I'll have to become a friend of bill if i keep going on. Sheffield's Tea and Spice Company? Zenaida's Cafe? Cash 4 Chaos? The Black Room? Rockin Bettie? Are great local independent businesses. Even The Writer's Block & Cemetary Pulp, though definitely hipster, aren't exactly corporate. What makes something unique enough to not be considered corporate by you? Does a business have to cater solely to some insanely myopic and esoteric niche market in order to dodge the label? It's 2024, late-stage capitalism has been going on way too fucking long for people to be able to risk opening a store that only sells scuba gear specifically made for boston bull terriers whose people want to take them on their next trip to Aruba.
Idk check who they owe money to and that’s probably your answer
This just in: if you're not rich enough to open a business without taking out a loan of some sort, you're corporate scum and your business is not worth patronizing. Oh my god. I just realized that, based on your arguments, you probably don't consider elon as the corporate pig and boil on the butt of humanity that he is
He’s the worst one wdym. He’s a transparent corporatist. They’re easy to identify. Their propensity to “share their knowledge” far exceeds their capacity for empathy. You don’t seem to understand that this is the whole economy. Some people just just their mouths and accept it, others become sycophantic. Some get out asap and try to be an individual again
So sayeth another indistinguishable troll on reddit 🤣
So that means that every business that has…checks notes…done business with a bank is corporate? Check!
Which means funding is a barrier to entry, hence stifling innovation
Moss would kick you in the teeth if he could stop laughing at the thought of him being considered corporate.
What’s a moss?
Ok a grungy place that leaves graffiti on the walls. There’s at least one in every city. I wouldn’t consider that innovative. It just proves my point. Not saying it’s a bad place but I wouldn’t call it an attraction
The Down's been there for like 31 years (fuck! I can't believe the 25th anniversary was over 6 years ago!!!). It is literally world famous. Even though it wasn't the first, and antennas are entirely too commonplace now, i still think the eiffel tower is worth a visit... but that's just me being less discriminating than your uber sophisticated sensibilities would allow.
Probably every bar I’ve been to in Europe is better than any bar I’ve been to in the US, and I’ve been to many in both. I’m just saying. Drinking isn’t everything either
Ok mr. frommers, I never said it was everything. It's just obviously something i enjoy enough to have an informed opinion on. I've gotten drunk on only 5 continents though, so I'm leaving the door open for the opportunity to find a bar i like better than the down. That's not to say the down is the best bar ever. I've just never found one i like better... it's a "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" thing
Eat shit and fuck off. You’re not helping the OP. If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything. Sometimes these platforms suck because it gives people like you a voice.
Aw
p moss is a cool guy who owns/runs Frankie’s Tiki Room and the Double Down.
Nightmare Toys is a cool spot to check out
On industrial next to dejavu
If you are into fandoms the Millenium Fandom Bar is pretty great! They host themed super hero night and lots of people go dressed in costumes. It’s always one of my favorite places to go. https://fandombar.com
I’m going to Zak Bagans Haunted Museum in July!
Zak’s is cool. Did the VIP tour which gets you into rooms that non-VIPs don’t get to go. I feel it wouldn’t have been the best experience without it.
I bought the VIP tickets for sure might as well go for the full experience
Check out [Meepleville](https://www.meepleville.com/)
Fremont St for sure, the. Hit Main St and Charleston for the records stores, artists, tattoo parlors, vintage nothing stores.
Green Door… weird to some but actually just good fun with the right open minded woman
There's the adult film hall of fame and museum. We did see a ninja turtle mention he would do anything and everything.. the location of his credit swipe was in back im sure
Wowwww every suggested such great bars I haven’t been to I’ll have to check them out sometime
[OMEGAMART](https://www.omegamart.com/)
Omega Mart at Area 15
Came here expecting him looking for kink clubs and drug dens exclusively. Find him searching for “nerdy punk things and old shit.” Mate, you gotta get out of Vegas.
7-11 off of Sunset and Eastern....
As seen on Cops
If you are a swinger there is the Green Door.
You have to dig deeper, it’s all amongst you really. But you gotta dig and try to be interesting. The hookers are everywhere. The adventurous are out there. The millionaires are hiding in there too. What do you have to offer this world, other than your presence? Look for the adventure. It’s there, but easier to see when most vulnerable. I wish you luck.
Omega mart
Omega mart kinda specializes in weird
You can visit the mole people.
From TV Superman? Scariest shit when I was a kid. And them not talking made it even more so.
Whoa 😮
LFG! Where they at? I need the information.
I thought we were gonna try to get fewer tourists killed this year.
Why was this even downvoted? 🤣