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

Rob Kachelriess

 at his North Las Vegas warehouse studio to publicly unveil his latest work: a 70-foot-tall steel dragon named Golspar. And yes, it breathes fire 🔥

3011 Coleman St., North Las Vegas, Nevada 89032

“ We want everybody to bring their families and kids,” Stone says, noting the celebration runs from 4 to 10 p.m. with two open bars 👀, complimentary charcuterie spreads, and food sold by the 

, a new medieval-themed resort in the Wisconsin Dells. It took 20 months to complete and will be dismantled and shipped to the Midwest following Saturday’s event. When it arrives, the sculpture will overlook the hotel parking lot, standing atop a concrete platform containing two thousand-pound propane tanks that allow the dragon to shoot fireballs up to 35 feet long.

“Golspar is about 17,000 pounds, the largest steel dragon in the world,” Stone says. “It had to be engineered to handle 150 mile-per-hour windstorms, snow, and other kinds of weather.

The sculptor’s career began as a welder by trade in Canada, working on commercial buildings and bridges before turning to art. He’s built big steel creatures before, including a 50-foot-long 

 near British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake, a 10,000-pound 

eagle at the entrance of a roller coaster

More jumbo-sized sculptures are on the way, including a tree for the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami and an eagle for an Independence Day celebration in Seattle at the Port of Kalama.

Stone has lived in Vegas for more than two years. He says it’s much easier to transport his art throughout the country now. (Imagine trying to cross international borders with a giant steel dragon.)

“My work is so detailed and so big, people think it's AI or something when looking at pictures,” Stone says. Come see the real thing for yourself 

An artist welcomes the public for a free party with open bars, charcuterie, food truck munchies for sale, and a 70-foot dragon.

I’ve Got a Dragon Warehouse Party to Tell You About

Find the best of everything that Las Vegas has to offer.

Las Vegas’s Best

Las Vegas' Best

 is here to command your attention. The nonprofit theater organization just kicked off a new season, putting a new twist on the poet and playwright, whose works remain timeless — with an adjustment here and there.

“We are an adaptive festival, so we adapt the scripts, we twist the scripts,” according to founder and executive director Matt Morgan. “We try to make them current in their presentation while at the same time, maintaining the integrity of the stories, characters, and relationships that William Shakespeare wrote about.”

The season is already off to a strong start with “Henry V,” presented in a series of free park performances and adapted to just 80 minutes. The story follows a young English king who leads an invasion to seize the French throne.

“Our version moves lightning fast,” Morgan says. “The action is always moving forward. We hit the highlights, we hit the characters, we hit the relationships, but you don't have to sit and listen to poetry for three and a half hours.”

The season continues with “The Taming of the Shrew,” a larger-scale production inside a temperature-controlled tent at Henderson’s Cornerstone Park, April 23-May 2. Running more than two hours (including intermission) and set in the Italian Renaissance, the production is presented in the context of a play-within-a-play that goes wrong. Don’t be surprised to see set pieces collapse and understudies replace actors in the middle of the show.

The Nevada Shakespeare Theater also partners with local libraries and schools, giving generations of all ages a fresh look at Shakespeare via short, stripped-down performances.

“I'd like to think that Shakepeare had a punk rock sense about himself,” Morgan says. “He was pushing, he was provocative. He was daring, he was making bold choices. He was making political statements.”

independent theater can thrive in a city of spectacle

A nonprofit exposes a new generation to William Shakespeare with a series of performances at Southern Nevada parks. 

The Nevada Shakespeare Festival Proves You Can Teach an Old Bard New Tricks 

, but a full-fledged, stand-alone, accredited art museum has yet to show up. So, it was something of a surprise when the 

 suddenly opened near Main and Charleston last week.

The museum takes over what used to be the Burlesque Hall of Fame and JRNY Gallery (for digital art) with the two spaces separated by a courtyard that will have a Hawaiian Tiki theme. The museum was designed with private events in mind, from silent disco sessions to artist receptions. The Silent Muse is an in-house bar and lounge that won’t be open for at least another month or two.

🤔 Is This Really Just Another Gallery?

Galleries sell art, while museums are strictly for viewing. And the Southern Nevada Art Museum is exhibiting more than 500 pieces by nearly 90 artists over a combined 10,000 square feet, none of it for sale. The idea is to have as much variety as possible, from 15th century manuscripts to clay pottery by Picasso and the expansive “Stairway to Heaven” set of paintings by Salvador Dalí, which depicts Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy.” Local artists like 

Founder and executive director Chris Davin says the pieces, bought from galleries, as well as auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s, are all originals, “authenticated and appraised.” A full, official museum accreditation is in the works, but takes up to 14 months.

The price is $30 for nonresidents or $20 for Nevada residents with discounts for seniors and students. Admission is just $5 for anyone during First Friday. You can also buy an annual membership for $100, which covers unlimited visits for two people.

Davin says he isn’t concerned about getting mixed up with the long-awaited Las Vegas Museum of Art, which was 

 in Symphony Park, but got pushed back at least another year. “There are so many different ways museums can do art,” he says. “We've got a little of everything. We don't know what type of art museum they're going to be.”

Davin concedes that if the name wasn’t already taken, he would’ve called his own project the Las Vegas Museum of Art, but is happy with how things turned out, noting the opportunity to emphasize local art that extends to places like Mesquite or Laughlin.

Davin, who’s also the executive director of the 

, says a corner exhibit dedicated to The Stonewall Inn and LGBTQ culture will evolve on a monthly basis. The museum functions as a nonprofit, and money from admission fees, donations, and sponsorships will be reinvested into the community via scholarships, artist-in-residency programs, and other efforts.

The Southern Nevada Art Museum just opened in the Downtown Arts District. So, what's the difference between a gallery and a museum?

What’s Up With that New Art Museum in Downtown Vegas?

What Las Vegans have been wondering. We break down why things in Las Vegas are the way they are and how they work.

Las Vegas, Explained

The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is much more than a tourist attraction. Originally the home of Steve Wynn’s private art collection, the space has become an enduring advocate for history and culture in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.

Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt

, is now welcoming visitors through September 13. The exhibit showcases nearly a hundred ancient Egyptian artifacts, including more than 30 mummified animals unearthed from cemeteries in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Some are wrapped without fanfare in minimalist clay pottery. Others are preserved inside elaborate coffins that resemble the contents within, from cats and crocodiles to a majestic ibis, whose beak is nearly as long as the slender legs that fold underneath the bird’s body. Graphics underneath information panels correspond to X-rays and CT scans, which offer a peek inside the mummified remains.

On loan from the Brooklyn Museum, where many of the pieces were discovered in storage, the collection marks a fascinating intersection between history and mythology. Compared to other civilizations, Ancient Egypt had a stronger degree of reverence for animals, although you can see the evolution documented throughout the exhibit.

An imposing bull’s head, crafted of wood, glass, and ivory, represents how the animal was worshipped as a god in early Egyptian culture. A frieze (or horizontal carving, possibly from above a doorway) is from a later era when Christianity was dominant and animals were viewed as subservient to humans. The oldest piece, a lion’s head carved from pegmatite, dates back five thousand years — give or take.

Tickets begin at $29, but it’s worth spending a little extra for guided docent tours, which take place daily at 11 a.m.

A new exhibit at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art dates back thousands of years and reveals how ancient Egyptians viewed animals.  

Animal Mummies, Now on Display at the Bellagio

Get to know the natural side of Las Vegas: the plants, animals, weather and more that make our city unique.

Las Vegas Urban Almanac

Urban Almanac

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it's a busy one with Lunar New Year festivities, Valentine’s Day, and the 

Lip Smacking Foodie Tours just launched a new two-hour 

, featuring stops at Nocturno, Doberman Drawing Room, Craft Creamery’s CC Speakeasy (which we 

), Prowl, and the newly opened Viking Mike’s — with drinks at each one and a few bites along the way. Considering the average price of just one cocktail these days, $99 for the full tour is a steal.

 exhibit by the main entrance, featuring the work of DARIUSTWIN. The artist uses long-exposure photography and colorful lights to “draw” images in the desert landscapes of Nevada, including ghost towns, state parks, and the Extraterrestrial Highway near Area 51 🛸

It’s a month for carbs. The proof is at Tivoli Village, where 

 on Tuesday nights for $95 per person. The restaurant has a late-night half-priced pasta happy hour too 👀 We’re also fans of the three-course $65 dinner for two on 

 inside Green Valley Ranch. Master your own skills, learning how to 

Ready to celebrate the Year of the Horse? The Bellagio already has a full exhibit at the 

 festival at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (Feb. 13-15), 

 at Desert Breeze Park (Feb. 22), plus a 

🍗 Chicken Wings As a Competitive Sport

 leaves Philadelphia and comes to Las Vegas for the first time, one day before Super Bowl Sunday at the Plaza — and 

. General admission is sold out, but you can still book a private VIP table for four people. It’s $300, but you get to see three rounds of competitive eating while chugging bottomless Beer Zombies blond ale and rocking out to a live performance by Trapt. (Remember 

 is raising the stakes in the Southwest with chances to win center-ice tickets for a Vegas Golden Knights game. The original 

 on Flamingo was known for its Labubu prizes, but the new one in Chinatown is full of unique games (like pulling “carrots” from the ground or playing a miniature pool table) with camera-ready photo spots, viral 3D ice cream, and plans for a communal courtyard with neighboring 

fun stuff happening in Vegas throughout February

February is a busy month with food, festivals, and all sorts of fun in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Events February 2026

What to Do in Las Vegas in February 2026

Shake off that New Year’s Day hangover. The rest of January is full of cool things to do. So check out all the fun stuff we have planned for you.

Seeing a top-level Elvis Presley impersonator recreate the King’s groundbreaking 1969 residency at the Westgate was one of our favorite events of 2025. (Elvis’ own brother 

.) Now, the resort is taking a trip back in time to the singer’s 

 with a one-night-only concert on Jan. 14, plus property-wide events, from themed karaoke to suite tours and more.

If you want to understand how artificial intelligence will 

 make our lives more convenient and efficient, the 

 is back to give us a glimpse into the future of tech. The event, which runs Jan. 6-9, is industry-only, but that covers a lot of ground these days — so 

 and see how it goes. Some of the affiliated 

January is a month for renewal and resolutions. For some, it’s about going “dry” with mocktails or signing up for a fitness club membership to use for about three weeks. Rather drop the meat instead? Our friends at Vegans Baby have a brand-new, updated 

, giving you the inside scoop on dishes even a carnivore like me could love.

“Showgirls: An Unauthorized Musical Parody”

 for anything based on “Showgirls” — a Vegas movie that 

, so take a road trip to see a choice of hot air balloon festivals in 

 (Jan. 23-25). If Ely is more your speed, the 

 runs Jan. 16-18, celebrating art and entertainment in the old mountain town, plus fireworks and a bonfire 🔥 👀

, a popular Italian sandwich shop with a Las Vegas location at UnCommons, hosts 

 every other Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The night starts with a spritz and continues with a glass of wine while munching on sandwich tastings and a selection of cheese and meats. Somewhere in the middle of all this, you’ll participate in the class and take home a fresh schiacciata flatbread of your own.

 of the year (tonight!) in the Arts District. This weekend also marks the final dates for “American Duet: Jazz & Abstract Art” at the 

. Round out the month with an Arts After Dark mixer with the 

 at the Clark County Library Jan. 24, and a piano performance by Broadway veteran Philip Fortenberry inside the 

 in Las Vegas with the first brand-new episode of 

It's a great month for art, theater, hot-air balloons, and eating vegan to get over that New Year's Day hangover. 

Things To Do in Vegas in January

What to Do in Las Vegas in January 2026

Following an 18-month building process, the all-new 

 opens to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Built from the ground up, the nearly 42,000-square-foot facility more than doubles the size of the previous version, giving the surrounding community an invaluable resource for navigating a constantly evolving world.

Occupying a parcel of more than five acres, the library is a sleek, modern structure with lots of natural light, outdoor spaces, and a towering foyer with a lobby designed as a place for people to gather and hang out. (Yes, power outlets are everywhere.) The east-facing front entrance was inspired by Southern-style porches — a communal space with plenty of shade from the daytime sun and benches that resemble open books (#cute).

An innovation lab is dedicated to the latest tech, teaching guests about laser cutters, 3D printers, and how to code. Have boxes of old VHS tapes lying around? The digital memory preservation lab can transfer that footage to a thumb drive and cure your hoarding habits. Updated computer stations are available throughout the library.

The multimedia center is especially impressive, allowing guests to record and mix music (with instruments on standby) or produce a podcast. There’s even a room with a wraparound green screen for aspiring filmmakers to experiment with chroma key special effects. An art gallery in the main lobby showcases works by local artists.

The main downstairs area is kids’ stuff, featuring special areas dedicated to teens and tweens (with a gaming console ready to play on a first-come, first-serve basis). Lunchtime meals are provided by Three Square Food Bank. The upstairs level is for adults. A corner room for quiet reading and studying has a clear view of Downtown casinos, making for an especially cool backdrop after dark.

The new library represents a renewed commitment to revitalizing the Historic Westside, a community with a 

. Historical figures and community heroes are highlighted throughout the venue with a timeline mural offering an extensive look at how local and national news events often collide.

More Than Books: A Look Inside the New West Las Vegas Library

 isn’t some bureaucratic agency. It’s a traveling pop-up mini-museum that got its start in Las Vegas and returns for a limited run this week 👀

“T he Office of Collecting and Design is a traveling museum of tiny lost and forgotten objects,” according to founder and curator Jessica Oreck. “It's very much a hands-on experience. You're supposed to open the drawers and look at the boxes and take stuff out of jars and just explore to your heart's content.”

You might see dice, dominoes, classroom items, matchboxes, broken toys, obsolete tools — “ a lot of things from our collective memories,” Oreck says. “ We call it a nostalgia machine because it’s a way of bringing people back to the wonder of their childhood.”

The Office of Collecting and Design was originally a brick-and-mortar business right here in Vegas at the Historic Commercial Center — a studio of sorts for Oreck, who was a lifelong collector and stop-motion animator. “My friends and family said, ‘You should open it to the public. You’ve got weird shit,’” she remembers. The business closed but was reimagined in the form of a traveling 42-foot trailer that includes a main gallery, reading room, and photo studio.

Visitors can upgrade their tickets and take part in a scavenger hunt (“ you get a little map of items and hunt for them, it’s really challenging and good for people who want a goal”). You can also opt for a flatlay session, to curate items for a photograph. “It’s somewhere between play therapy and art practice,” Oreck explains. “It’s an intimate experience. Some people just enjoy it. Some people cry.”

The Office of Collecting and Design will be parked behind the Las Vegas Museum of Science & Natural History in Downtown’s Cultural Corridor Oct. 22-26 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 7 p.m.). 

. Visitors are limited to six people at a time due to the cozy nature of the space. The exhibit is not recommended for children.

The Office of Collecting and Design isn’t some bureaucratic agency. It’s a traveling pop-up mini-museum, back for a limited time.

The Office of Collecting and Design Pop-Up Returns to Las Vegas

A Tiny Pop-Up Museum Celebrates Knickknacks and Trinkets

Ready to wave the flag high for Las Vegas? Well, you can show some pride in our city with an official banner. You probably didn’t even know we had one, did you?

, who won a contest authorized by the Las Vegas City Council in 1965. It’s worth noting that Bouton was an assistant to the city manager. The flag was formally adopted in 1968.

The dominant royal blue color represents the Nevada sky and the diagonal gray stripe symbolizes the mining industry associated with our Silver State nickname. The seal includes stuff that’s mostly outside city limits: the Hoover Dam, a Joshua tree, desert landscapes, and Sunrise Mountain. A jet and three skyscrapers (which don’t look like anything in Vegas) symbolize tourism.

, the City of Las Vegas flag received a score of 3.61 out of 10 ☹️ and placed 93rd. (The top three were Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Denver.) Personally, I think the Vegas flag is all sorts of meh. The grey strip looks like a stretch of highway to me, symbolizing our city’s love affair with traffic — so maybe it fits. And those skyscrapers look like something that belongs in New York or Chicago.

 on the local influence of Latter-day Saints, a replica of the 

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park

, the first non-Indigenous settlement in our city. Although best we can tell, it was never adopted as an official flag for what would become the City of Las Vegas.

 has a flag too. It shares a similar color, but has a 

The answer is yes! But it’s kinda ugly. 

 Does Las Vegas Have a Flag?

Does the City of Las Vegas Have a Flag?

 makes an appearance in Las Vegas on Wednesday. June 25. The convoy arrives at Historic Commercial Center 

 to receive the Key to the Strip by Clark County Commission Chairman Tick Segerbloom before making its way down the Strip at 

Please note that we’ve updated the schedule for the elephants’ procession to reflect new information as it came in.

The Great Elephant Migration is an art project with a mission. The 100 life-size elephants, hand-crafted by Indigenous artists in South India, represent a theme of coexistence, based on the shared spaces between wild animals and people in densely populated Indian communities.

The elephants are currently on a thousand-mile road trip through the American West, from Jackson Hole to Beverly Hills, making stops along the way, including national parks like Zion and Joshua Tree. The elephants travel in groups of two and three on Hertz trucks decorated in the style of Indian lorry art.

 of more than 200 Indian artists who coordinate with environmental leaders and organizations around the world. The elephants are designed to spread awareness of environmental issues through art and support more than 20 conservation NGOs (non-governmental organizations) that protect biodiversity around the world.

Sure! The elephants themselves are fundraisers for the nonprofit effort. You can 

, ranging in price from $8,000 to $22,000. If you don’t have that kind of cash lying around, you can contribute to the cause by ordering 

clothing, decorations, and other merchandise

 Great Elephant Migration to your list of 

cool things to do in Las Vegas throughout June

The Great Elephant Migration comes to the Las Vegas Strip. The 100 hand-carved, life-sized wooden elephants mix art with activism. 

art

I’ve Got a Dragon Warehouse Party to Tell You About

The Nevada Shakespeare Festival Proves You Can Teach an Old Bard New Tricks

What’s Up With that New Art Museum in Downtown Vegas?

Latest articles

I’ve Got a Dragon Warehouse Party to Tell You About

The Nevada Shakespeare Festival Proves You Can Teach an Old Bard New Tricks

What’s Up With that New Art Museum in Downtown Vegas?

Animal Mummies, Now on Display at the Bellagio

What to Do in Las Vegas in February 2026

What to Do in Las Vegas in January 2026

More Than Books: A Look Inside the New West Las Vegas Library

Latest articles

Animal Mummies, Now on Display at the Bellagio

What to Do in Las Vegas in February 2026

What to Do in Las Vegas in January 2026

More Than Books: A Look Inside the New West Las Vegas Library

A Tiny Pop-Up Museum Celebrates Knickknacks and Trinkets

Does the City of Las Vegas Have a Flag?

An Elephant Migration is Coming to Las Vegas