austin

Austin

chicago

Chicago

denver

Denver

lasvegas

Las Vegas

madison

Madison

nashville

Nashville

philly

Philly

pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

portland

Portland

saltlake

Salt Lake

seattle

Seattle

twincities

Twin Cities

We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Las Vegas

We ask local movers and shakers the essential questions.

 is a musician, businessman, and author. His latest book, 

 is a fun twist on the events surrounding the 1960 presidential election, in which John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon — possibly with a mob influence and Vegas connection.

Why write historical fiction when real life is so ridiculous to begin with — especially politics?

“It’s fun. You get to make bad guys the good guys, and the good guys the bad guys. You get to put words in their mouth and make 'em do things they might not ordinarily do.

“There's a lot of Las Vegas in my novel. It starts with a Rat Pack show in 1960. Frank Sinatra, JFK, and gangster Sam Giancana conspire to rig the presidential election, which they do, but promises went unfulfilled. The mob got betrayed, Sinatra got blamed and was in trouble from all sides. It's crazy, and there's an unbelievably wild twist at the end.”

, which could both be on the Mount Rushmore of Vegas bars. What do you think the other two should be?

, I don’t know what number four would be, but I’m partial to dive bars. I feel comfortable there. When I was in high school and told my mom I'm going to the library, I’d find some dive bar that would serve me. When I opened Double Down, my aim was to create a bar where I, myself, would want to drink. It'll be 33 years in November.”

In the current era of the $22 cocktail, do we need dive bars more than ever in Vegas?

“You can equate us to the old Las Vegas, which was great. Everything was cheap. Rooms were cheap, drinks were cheap, food was cheap, shows were cheap. The casinos made their money at the gaming tables. They knew what they were doing.

“When corporations took over, that all changed. They’re all complaining, ‘Oh, we're losing money 'cause nobody's coming.’ Nobody's coming because you're charging $26 for a bottle of water in your mini bar. They just don't get it.

“Give customers a few $8 drinks and make 'em comfortable, and they’re gonna stay. It's a simple business because Las Vegas is a people-oriented place. Make people happy, they will spend money. Make people happy, they will come back.”

The owner of the Double Down Saloon and Frankie's Tiki Room has a side hustle for the history books.

P Moss on the Legacy of Dive Bars and Writing Historical Fiction

What Las Vegas celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Las Vegas Public Figures

3 Questions With

 is back this weekend, offering a three-day fix for junkies of Vegas casino history and artifacts at the South Point exhibition hall. Make sure to say hello to the “Queen of Swizzle” Pam Ashlund 🍹 The founder of the Swizzle Stick Collectors Club will be on the floor Friday with an educational seminar at 3 p.m.

​How did you become the swizzle stick queen?

“Back in 2008, I was reaching for a pen on my mother’s desk and instead, pulled out a long plastic swizzle stick topped with a skull from the Ivanhoe Restaurant in the 1950s. From then on, it was a slippery slope of tiki mugs, mid-century cocktail menus, and eBay bidding wars at 2 a.m. One day, I looked up and I was the proud owner of 50,000 vintage swizzle sticks. I claimed my crown and declared my realm. I reign over the House of Swizzle, where the drinks are strong, the sticks are vintage, and the vibes are mid-century marvelous.”

What exactly is a swizzle stick — and why are they so closely associated with Vegas casinos?

“A swizzle stick is a drink stirrer. They can be glass, plastic, wood, and sometimes gold and silver. Swizzle sticks and matchbooks were given away at bars and restaurants and often taken home as souvenirs. Vegas casinos gave out swizzle sticks with free drinks at the slots. My favorites are from the Dunes, Tropicana, and MGM Grand.”

“I can no longer pick my most prized, but one I get a kick out of is topped with the Titanic and served in a drink over ice. As the ice melts, the poor ship sinks in your glass. It was a promotion for an old movie, ‘A Night to Remember,’ and later retired by the studio as it was in bad taste.”

 to the founder of the Casino Collectibles Association last year about 

 and listed the event as one of the best 

Swizzle sticks are more than just trinkets. They're history. 

“Queen of Swizzle” Pam Ashlund on Unique Pieces of Casino History

City Cast Las Vegas co-host Dayvid Figler shares some thoughts on the Aging Wellness Expo and his interview with Marla Letizia.

 returns to the South Point casino on March 15. Hosted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the annual event showcases health, medical, financial, and recreational services with the over-50 crowd in mind.

My mom used to love it. I remember she would pair up with a friend (and occasionally drag me along) to go booth to booth. She loved all the little freebies — the swag — and meeting new people who were her age or younger who, in her opinion, didn’t look or act as “youthful” as she envisioned herself. It was a mindset — a positive attitude affirming you’re only as old as you think, although titanium knee replacements aren’t to be ignored when the doctor says it’s time!

Marla Letizia knows this approach well. You wouldn’t believe it if you met her — 

she’s way more sparkly and energized than this City Cast Las Vegas host

 — but she just turned 72. A media professional and a lifelong Las Vegan, Marla is the driving force behind 

 at the expo on how to live a longer and better life. Here’s a preview.

What are the pros and cons of getting older in Las Vegas?

“The pros are easy. The weather’s good, there’s a lot of outdoor activity. There isn't the greatest public transportation, but people can Uber or taxi to the casinos where there's a lot of activity. But that’s also a problem with retiring in Las Vegas … There are a lot of people who've never been face-to-face with gaming like we have right here. It's ubiquitous. A lot of people come to town, have a wonderful nest egg, buy a house in Sun City, and suddenly they get hooked and they lose it all. It's a very dangerous thing for people.”

How do we reduce ageism in the Las Vegas community?

“We can start by talking about it openly. My husband had a bit of a heart issue. The doctor came in, looked at us and out of nowhere, started to talk to us like we were children. Like we had lost 25 IQ points since we were 45. I just thought to myself, ‘What the heck is going on here?’ I tried to assert myself as a mature, intelligent individual that understood what he was talking about, but it just didn't hit … Our doctors in their 40s and 50s — what they don’t realize is that in 10, 20 years, they’re going to be us.”

What are the keys to aging well in a place like Las Vegas?

“Finding a connection to community. Whatever church or synagogue that’s familiar to you is an easy entry. Get involved in any activities that have ever interested you.

“In the Long-Life Era community, it can be our five-day exercise challenge or anything that gets you moving — from e-bikes to weightlifting or ballroom dancing. Zumba, treadmills, walking dogs. If all else fails, join a pickleball team. In a place like Las Vegas, it’s easy to be isolated, and that’s the biggest barrier to having that healthy mindset. Finding a vibrant community in our city is the key to thriving as you age.”

Vegas is a great place for a lot of things. Is growing old one of them?

Growing Old in Las Vegas

Marla Letizia on Growing Old in Vegas

 is your guy. The comic, actor, writer, and all-around restless soul now has his own biweekly late-night Thursday residency at 

 on the Strip. Yet Harris seems to stay busy round the clock, hosting the Trivia Party at 

 (Wednesdays), co-booking comedy nights at 

 podcast with film critic Josh Bell. Somehow, he found time to answer a few questions.

You're a writer. What question should I ask you first?

“Uh, ‘How do you keep that muscle tone?’ Maybe ‘Why are you doing this?’

“There are about eight different residencies at Kimmel's, including famous guys like Michael Yo. Kym Whitley’s there now. Luenell’s

their big draw a lot of the time. And then, they've offered some comedians based in Vegas residencies.

“What I'm trying to do with mine is give it a late-night happy-hour feel. I want everyone to come in and have a good time. I usually book two of my friends to open for me — Gabe Nolasco, Steven Roberts, Chris Clarke, great comics. They go up, they do their thing. Funny, funny, funny. I come out, start with jokes, and then based on whatever the crowd's giving me, we take it in different directions. There's a lot of crowd work. It’s very interactive. Tickets are 20 bucks — not bad. We have food and drink specials.”

How does Jimmy Kimmel’s compare to other comedy clubs? And please be objective, even though they pay you.

“ I’m really happy that I'm getting the chance at Kimmel's. I would say it's definitely an ‘A’ club on the Strip. You can just look at the lineups to know that. They really go out of their way to treat you well as a comic. They respect your work and your craft. When they offered this to me, they said, ‘Hey, we're not offering this to you as a one-off, we’re in this for the long haul with you.’

“Aside from Kimmel's, my favorite club to work is Wiseguys. Last year, I got to open for Harland Williams and the Sklar Brothers at 

. I hope people know that I appreciate the opportunities. Local comedy is so much more supportive now than when I was coming up, which was like a war zone of comics just trying to hold on to their spot.”

You were in the “BattleBots" stage show. Did being a comedian help prepare you for the role?

“Yes, we had scripted lines, but my goal was – let's also be aware of what's going on in the moment and make sure we're playing to that. I've done everything from ‘The Soprano's Last Supper’ to ‘Marriage Can Be Murder.’ This is a hard town to be a working actor, but the local theater scene is thriving. There's a ton of great actors and productions here.”

The comedian and writer discusses the Vegas club scene and his new residency for late-night laughs on the Strip.

Jason Harris at Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club

Jason Harris on the Las Vegas Comedy Scene

 proved that Nevada continues to be a complicated state, electing Republican Donald Trump president while choosing to keep Democrat Jacky Rosen in the U.S. Senate. With that in mind, City Cast Las Vegas co-host Dayvid Figler spoke to Sen. Rosen about her record of bipartisanship and how she's reaching across the aisle to support new legislation. The following is an abbreviated segment from the interview, edited for brevity and clarity.

You voted for the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented migrants who are even just accused of petty crimes like shoplifting. Nevada has the highest percentage of undocumented folks in our workforce, so how is this bill good for us? How do you justify voting for it?

“Well, I can tell you that if you're a criminal, you should be held accountable — period. If you're here, you're undocumented, you've committed a crime, we need to keep Nevada safe. We need to keep our community safe. We do know that at the southern border, people have been taking advantage of transnational gangs, terrorists, and the like.

”We tried very hard to make this bill a better bill … Trump has already been talking about mass deportations in the first … two or three days in office, right? … This is horrific. We do not want to see this anywhere. You can see throughout history, anytime this has been done, a lot of innocent people are hurt and we don't want to see that happen. So I'm going to focus more on Trump's horrific mass deportation executive orders and see what we can do there.”

You’re co-sponsoring the CONSTRUCTS Act (with Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn) that aims to get more people into construction jobs. Is there anything that could be done now to help Las Vegans who are struggling with the cost of housing?

“We have corporate investors who are coming to Nevada, buying up all the homes. Sometimes there's a whole block or two blocks owned by corporate investors. That's fine, but if they try to price gouge people either on a sale or rent, we have a bill, the HOME Act, that holds them accountable. The fine they pay goes back into a bucket for affordable housing.”

Let's talk about the bill you co-sponsored with Republican Senator Ted Cruz. The No Tax On Tips Act. Did you make sure there were some safeguards in there so that CEOs and other people who make lots and lots of money aren’t going to take advantage of this?

“They cannot declare their whole salary as a tip. Elon Musk cannot say his whole salary is a tip … This is about bringing relief for workers, people working hard, getting up every damn day going to work. Their salaries are not guaranteed. One day's a good day, one day's not. You don't know. They need to have that relief and put that money back in their pockets. I saw Elon Musk on that stage (with Donald Trump on Inauguration Day). He should be paying his fair share.”

co-host Dayvid Figler and Sen. Jacky Rosen. 

City Cast Las Vegas Interviews Sen. Jacky Rosen

The Nevada senator discusses a new era of bipartisanship in Congress while representing a deep purple state.

Jacky Rosen defends her vote on the Laken Riley Act

Sen. Jacky Rosen: 'If you're a criminal, you should be held accountable — period'

Duty to community is the common thread that runs through the life of 

, from 25 years as a police officer to decades of poetry and volunteer work for local food banks. The Vegas native began reciting poetry at cafe open mics while studying criminal justice at UNLV and later found himself sharing words of amusement and inspiration at morning Metro briefings. He’s now retired from the force, but continues stretching his creativity while doing his part to make Las Vegas a better place.

Does your experience as a police officer inspire your poetry?

“ Absolutely. It's been a healing factor for me and for others as well. I've written commission pieces for officers — retirements, anniversaries, that kind of stuff. But more importantly, I've written eulogies for people who have passed away, including officers killed in the line of duty. I wrote a poem for Route 91 Harvest (the music festival mass shooting) and it ended up on a large scroll in calligraphy at the museum in Metro headquarters. But I think I'd still be a poet whether I'd been a police officer or not.”

Your latest book is called “Bellowing at the Volcano.” Is that a reference to the Mirage — and if so, are you a little sad the hotel closed and there’s one less volcano to bellow at?

“ It is somewhat of a Mirage reference. There are fault lines here too. There's a lot of volcanic activity that created this valley we live in. If you remember, only the coolest kid was able to build a volcano for science class. It’s just always been a thing to me. It’s a destructive force that creates life.

“ After I retired, I had a lot of time to process things I'd seen and done over the years. This book is a culmination of my childhood trauma, trauma from the job, and how I've reconciled that through poetry.”

What do police officers and poets have in common?

"Both jobs involve compassion, reason, gauging the temperature of things, and being empathetic. Without empathy, police aren't successful. In my experience, the hardest, most grizzled veteran cops got big hearts. You just gotta know how to get into them.

“The best value of being an artist in this community is the community itself. I've met incredible people trying to make the world a better place through singular acts of art. Helping people get food, helping people get shelter. In the end, we’re only as good as our weakest link.”

A retired Metro police officer continues serving the community with poetry and volunteerism. 

Former Police Officer Harry Fagel Finds an Outlet in Poetry

Harry Fagel on Poetry and the Police Force

 is in the middle of a new season, but this one comes with a twist. After a 10-year run with Donato Cabrera, the Philharmonic is welcoming a rotating lineup of guest conductors at the Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall — effectively an open audition for both the musicians and audience to enjoy. Executive Director Alice Sauro shares some insight on the process.

How difficult is it to find a new conductor? You can’t just put an ad in the paper, right?

Right now, we have two years of guest conductors, which is exciting. This is an opportunity for the musicians and the public to experience 20 different conductors. The Las Vegas Philharmonic is 26 years old, which is very young for a community of this size. So, we’re growing and hopefully, a new artistic leader will be growing with us.

What are you looking forward to most this year?

All of our programs have works that are both familiar and unfamiliar. We have a female conductor on the podium on January 18, so that’s wonderful to see for Dvořák’s New World Symphony — everyone will recognize that, but we’ll also have the Philip Glass Violin Concerto, which is considered the American Four Seasons, not the Vivaldi Four Seasons. It's a very beautiful and lyrical work, but most people are not familiar with it. The February concert will have some Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet.

Leonard Slatkin (in the current role of artistic consultant) will be back in March conducting Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony. Most musicians don't get to play that very often in their career, so this is really a big deal for them. In April, we have a young man conducting Tchaikovsky and Gershwin, and then in May, we have another female conductor. This one will be unique because she's going to play one of the works from the piano while she conducts the rest of the orchestra.

The Philharmonic has played with Nas at the Wynn’s Encore Theatre and returns for three more dates in February. How did performing with a rapper come about?

We got a phone call. Someone said, ‘Would you like to play with Nas?’ We said ‘sure’ and the next day, it was in the paper (laughs). It’s been a wonderful process. Nas has a lot of crossover appeal. He has a lot of interest in classical music and quotes classical composers in his songs. His father is a professional jazz musician, so Nas is a really unique and interesting man. Some people wouldn't think that Nas and the Philharmonic would go together, but they absolutely do.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic is in the middle of a new season, but this one comes with a twist. 

Alice Sauro on the Las Vegas Philharmonic's Search for a New Conductor

 is getting all sorts of awards-season love — and despite its central theme about the challenges of time, seems destined to age well and join our list of 

. Directed by Gia Coppola, the arthouse drama was shot on location — mostly at the Rio — in just 18 days on 16 mm film, tapping into the beautiful grit of Las Vegas and the story of an aging showgirl facing the cancellation of her long-running production.

Pamela Anderson earned a Golden Globe nomination for the lead role, carrying the movie alongside a strong cast and two things that threaten to steal the show: Jamie Lee Curtis in a supporting role and authentic Jubilee showgirl costumes on loan from Caesars Entertainment.

While the settings and situations are uniquely Las Vegas, “The Last Showgirl” tackles relatable, universal themes, from family struggles and life choices to the unwinnable battle against getting older, even if it brings perspective and wisdom.

I attended a private preview screening at the Beverly Theater last week, followed by a Q&A. Anderson answered questions from moderator 

 while alongside producer Robert Schwartzman. The following responses are edited for brevity.

You have a special connection to Las Vegas. You performed on a Vegas stage years ago.

“I've always wanted to be a magician's assistant … so I was happy to do that (as a celebrity guest for Hans Klok at Planet Hollywood in 2007) and be a showgirl … Everybody comes to Las Vegas, so we wanted to celebrate the people that make Vegas sparkle. In this film, I resonated with it … because it was about working-class people in Las Vegas behind the scenes, which is always exciting to see.

“I played Roxie in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway. And I came right from that to here (in Las Vegas to film). So that was the warm up. I got to hear that backstage banter, people talking about what they're making for dinner, and then hear their cue and go on, and then go off and continue talking about what they're going to make for dinner. It was fun to bring that into the film. All those little things.”

You got a lot of help from former Jubilee dancers and showgirls. Was that helpful working with the headpieces and all those quick changes? I'm sure they gave you a lot of tips and tricks.

“Yeah, there's a choreography that goes with taking these costumes on and off. They're quite precious too, so we really wanted to take care of them. With the headdresses, usually the girls only have them on for a couple minutes, but we'd be wearing them all day, leaning against the wall … holding those things up.

“I told Gia I want to really go for it. I want to learn everything I can … I prepared for this film like I would a play. I knew every single word of this movie before I got to Las Vegas, inside-out and backwards because we weren’t going to have a lot of time.”

Golden Globe nominee, so many nominations … People are rooting for you and excited for this amazing new chapter in your career. Do you feel the love?

“ I do feel the love. I just have to say it's never too late to never give up. I just love this business. Coming from a Playboy background … I was going to Samuel French, reading Tennessee Williams plays and Eugene O'Neill plays, and I was like, ‘How do I get from here to 

“I don't know. I was just searching. And I encourage people to keep searching. And when that opportunity comes … you just grab it by the throat and do it.”

Pamela Anderson paid a visit to Las Vegas to discuss "The Last Showgirl," awards season, and filming at the Rio.

Pamela Anderson Interview in Las Vegas About 'The Last Showgirl'

Pamela Anderson on Filming ‘The Last Showgirl’ in Las Vegas

Quick bites are back in fashion. Caesars Palace just renamed its old food court the 

, bringing in big-name chefs like Esther Choi to elevate the options while maintaining fast-casual convenience. The Food Network favorite is excited to introduce diners to 

, her signature concept, which draws heavily on her Korean heritage. Choi shares some thoughts on her love of culture and cuisine — and why Korean food could use more representation on the Strip.

You’re in a food hall at Caesars Palace. You’re going to get a lot of tourists who aren’t familiar with Korean food. What do you want them to know before ordering?

“Keep an open mind and be fearless in trying new flavors because you're in for a treat — fermentation, rice bowls, sliced vegetables, and different types of proteins. Korean food is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. We don't use a ton of oil in our food. Maybe a little sesame oil for flavor.

“Lots of things are fermented, which is very good for you. Kimchi is my soul. It runs in my blood. It’s my favorite thing in the entire world. We make four different types. You’ll also find Korean barbecue flavors throughout the menu. 

"Dumplings in Korean are called Mandu. There are lots of vegetables mixed into the meat and the filling is very thick. They're nice and fluffy — and juicy."

I see you have a dish called Dumplings in Soup. Is that a reaction to the soup dumplings trend, which seems to be everywhere these days?

“That’s one of my favorites. I took the idea of the soup dumpling and I was like, let's do it inside-out … The soup is on the outside rather than being inside the dumpling, but when you eat it, it's kind of the same. It’s actually very traditional in Korea to eat Manduguk, which is dumplings in soup. So it’s on trend, yet done in a deconstructed way.”

You’re part of Caesars Entertainment now. And once a celebrity chef gets sucked into that orbit, restaurants seem to multiply. Are you eager to do more in Las Vegas, especially knowing that Korean food is so underrepresented on the Strip?

“Oh, absolutely. Mokbar is quick service, it’s what I do, but having a big, beautiful sit-down restaurant like Bobby Flay or Gordon Ramsay is a dream. I definitely want to bring experiential Korean dining to Vegas — grilling at the table, but super nice and fun. 

"I mean, where are all the Korean restaurants at? There are a lot of Koreans in town and lots of Asians that love to eat Korean food. That’s a big void that's missing on the Strip and I hope to fill that very soon.”

Esther Choi arrives in Las Vegas with Mokbar, giving the Strip a much-needed destination for Korean food. 

Esther Choi brings Mokbar to the Las Vegas Strip

Esther Choi on Why We Could Use More Korean Food on the Strip

After 18 years on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street, the 

 is closing its doors. As documented in a 

 by our friend Janna Karel at Vegas Eater, the groundbreaking lounge was ahead of its time and set the stage for the Downtown evolution. From the no-frills exterior and trick door entrance (originally designed to keep out drunks) to the inventive cocktail menu, which changed at least four times a year, the Downtown Cocktail Room was a moody, atmospheric hangout that helped usher in a new era for drinks in Las Vegas. Owner Michael Cornthwaite looks back on the legacy of his business and shares some bittersweet memories.

Is it fair to say the Downtown Cocktail Room played a role in shifting Vegas away from Long Island Iced Teas and the Vodka Cranberries to craft cocktails, absinthe service, and the punchbowl revival?

“A hundred percent. A 22 year old never thought of Downtown Las Vegas 20 years ago and now, it's the preferred destination for that demo. We've literally gone through hundreds and hundreds of cocktails. The Downtown Dill is one that lived on. It was our take on a Bloody Mary. We debuted the Watermelon Cooler around 2010 and it’s come back almost every summer ever since because it was so popular. There was one called the Orthodox Caveman that was so unique and unusual. It had elements of peaty Scotch and smoke. It just knocked your socks off and people still talk about it.

“The punch bowl occurred to me 15 years ago. It's fun to revisit things from the past and make them modern. Bringing back absinthe and making that part of the cocktail culture was fun.”

Mike Morey's Sip'nTip was a bar within a bar at the Downtown Cocktail Room. How did that come about?

“In the early days, we didn’t have a lot of customers. And there was one gentleman, an attorney in the Downtown area, who I’d say on the conservative side, came in four or five days a week. He was just the most generous, entertaining, and engaging guy you ever met. The nicest guy. So he became a staff favorite. I think every bar or restaurant has their favorite regulars and for us, that was a guy named Mike Morey. He was always willing to help out too. He became a fixture and there were days he would stay from opening until close. He was just a really wonderful person and a pleasure to have around. So when he passed away, I wanted to pay a little homage to his memory.

“I bought a lot of Mike Wardle artwork (for the Downtown Cocktail Room) over the years and he certainly was a fixture in the bar and around Downtown in general. Very talented, very smart. He was quite a conversationalist and storyteller — and a pretty fun guy to be around too.”

That's kind of what the legacy of a good bar is really about, right? The people that came through it.

“No doubt, yeah … I think the legacy is in the coming of age of Las Vegas as a world-class city. The Downtown Cocktail Room contributed to the culture and vibe. Ultimately, we're leaving Downtown Las Vegas in a much better place than where we found it.”

The Downtown Cocktail Room set the stage for a new era of drinking in Las Vegas. Owner Michael Cornthwaite looks back on its legacy. 