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City Cast Las Vegas

 has been a locals favorite in Charleston Heights for more than 20 years. You can’t miss the distinctive arched roof on the corner of Decatur and Alta, but the restaurant just unveiled a few changes.

Renovations include an enhanced outdoor dining patio, a refreshed Benjamin Franklin mural, and a new retro-style sign, while preserving the original at the Neon Museum. POP’S also debuted a food truck for special events and regular Saturday appearances at 

The name represents the “Pride of Philly Steaks” with the City of Brotherly Love well represented on the menu. Just walk up to the counter and order. The restaurant’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some staff members have been part of the team since day one, including general manager Jose Hernandez.

POP’S was founded by Perry and Barbara Walton; North Carolina transplants who moved to Las Vegas, but loved the food and culture of Philadelphia. It’s been a family-owned business all this time and is now run by daughter Christina.

POP’S cheesesteaks are made with sliced Ribeye, locally baked buns, and vegetables brought in fresh daily. There are lots of options on the menu, but typically you’d choose between American or Provolone cheese (or if you really want to get crazy, authentic Cheese Whiz). Ask for the sandwich “wit” or “wit-out” onions. You can go with chicken instead of steak too.

The most popular cheesesteak is the #32 with provolone, peppers, and mushrooms. POP’S occasionally rotates in seasonal specials like the Holiday Hoagie ( sliced turkey with gravy, mayo, cranberry, and stuffing, layered with sweet potato fries) and a summer Lobster Roll on lettuce and tomato.

Fried sides are the specialty, so load up on mac n’ cheese bites, green beans, mozzarella sticks, and more. The coconut dipping syrup with the sweet potato fries is a nice touch. POP'S even has packaged Tastykake treats, which all Philadelphians crave, but is hard to find outside the Northeast.

 is an iconic spot that helps define the character of Charleston Heights, a neighborhood you might want to 

Visit an iconic, 24-hour cheesesteak restaurant that helped shape the identity of a Vegas neighborhood west of the Strip.

POP'S Philly Cheesesteaks in Las Vegas

How POP’S Got Vegas Hooked on Round-the-Clock Cheesesteaks

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Las Vegas. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Las Vegas Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Rob Kachelriess

, 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

Local chefs and businesses are having fun with fungi lately. So let’s get familiar with some of the best ways to enjoy mushrooms in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Tasting Society tends to organize events for tequila, whiskey, and stuff like that, but the group is presenting 

Magic of Mushrooms: An Exotic Tasting Experience

 this Sunday, March 1 in the Arts District. Roam between stations to munch on 10 plant-based mushroom recipes, including fun stuff like lion’s mane “crab cakes” and king oyster carpaccio. Upgrade the experience to add on a menu of potato dishes as well as vodka or wine pairings.

 grows their own mushrooms right here in Las Vegas — sold to the general public and prized by some of our city’s best chefs. Order familiar favorites like shiitake, maitake (hen of the woods), and a variety of oyster mushrooms, or less familiar options like pretzel cap and coral tooth. Desert Moon also sells grow-your-own mushroom kits and makes regular appearances at farmers markets at Downtown Summerlin and St. Rose Corporate Center in Henderson.

My wife loves the wood ear mushroom salad, served cold, drenched in sesame oil and soy sauce, at China Mama’s two Chinatown locations (the 

stir fries wood ear mushrooms (named for their color and shape) with sweet potato and snow peas as a vegetarian-friendly side dish.

One of my all-time favorite mushroom recipes … is served at a steakhouse. 

 at the Rio steams a large Desert Moon lion's mane mushroom and soaks it for two days in beet juice, garlic, thyme, and ginger, which then develops a steak-like crust when broiled. It arrives on the table with black garlic puree and charred cabbage.

This Las Vegas business closed its brick-and-mortar shop and cafe last year, but remains active as a health-focused online retailer. The signature 

 is a fermented combination of shiitake mushroom mycelium plus lion’s mane, turkey tail, reishi, and chaga mushrooms. (A 20% Valentine’s Day discount continues through the end of February.)

See what else gets yanked from the ground when 

Local chefs and businesses are having fun with fungi lately.

Where To Find Mushrooms in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Is Mad About Mushrooms

We’ve been talking a lot about bingo lately, from its 

success at the Plaza and locals-focused neighborhood casinos

. But where did this game of chance start?

Early versions of what would become bingo 

 (“lotto”) before spreading to France (“le lotto”) and Mexico (“lotería”) in the 1700s — and our buddies at Pinches Tacos continue to 

Americans got a taste for it in the 1920s when Hugh J. Ward of Pittsburgh marketed a version of the game, 

. In 1929, toy manufacturer Edwin S. Lowe saw the game played under Ward’s rules at an Atlanta carnival, where players called it “beano” since dried beans were used to cover numbers on cards. Lowe 

 by producing bingo sets, and its popularity exploded during the Great Depression when it was used as a fundraiser for churches.

Despite his success with bingo (a natural for gambling circles) and 

 called Monte Carlowe, Lowe failed to seize the potential of gambling when he came to Las Vegas. The businessman 

 as the only hotel on the Strip without a casino, believing he could attract an untapped family-oriented clientele. He misread the market, and the Tallyho closed after less than a year.

renamed Kings Crown Tallyho under new ownership

, although the site would later become better known for two versions of the Aladdin and eventually, Planet Hollywood.

Lowe later acknowledged his miscalculation in Vegas, but made out just fine, 

selling his E. S. Lowe Company to Milton Bradley

 in 1973 for $26 million (or about $190 million in today’s dollars). Meanwhile, bingo would become a Vegas staple at 

the first to introduce electronic flash boards

🤔 But Really, Who Came Up With the Name?

That’s up for debate — or maybe not. Some stories claim Lowe was playing the game with friends in New York when a winner shouted “bingo” by mistake instead of “beano.” However, documents show that Ward 

 for a rulebook in 1933, but never renewed his claim, leaving it open for Lowe. It appears Ward 

, believing the word was easier to shout upon hitting a winning combination.

Just like bingo, marketing is all about timing … and luck.

The businessman who brought bingo to the masses also opened the Tallyho hotel in Vegas. What went wrong?

How the Man Who Popularized Bingo Failed to Capitalize on Vegas Gambling

People, places, and scenes from Las Vegas's past.

Las Vegas History

Location is everything when operating a restaurant — and some Las Vegas addresses are notoriously tough. A few are downright cursed.

How can a place go wrong at Tivoli Village?

 Well, it happens — especially on the opposite side of a courtyard shared with the always-busy 

 at the Wynn, couldn’t make it work. Tapas by Alex Stratta didn’t last a year before it was reimagined as Salt & Pepper. Eventually, the El Dorado team took over, using the upstairs level for Excluscivo (something of a dining speakeasy) before rebranding it the Chancellor, which didn’t fare much better. A former manager swore to me the space was haunted 👻 Now, it’s little more than an overflow event space.

Just look at 6125 Spring Mountain (on the corner of Jones), where a Dairy Queen couldn't last. It was replaced by Tsaocaa for boba tea, followed by La Moon (a place I loved for Asian food with French cafe vibes). Having an address right next to a 7-Eleven may have hurt (and repurposing the distinctive Dairy Queen sign didn’t help). Today, 

 is in the spot (with a new sign!), serving a diverse menu of Vietnamese food.

How many doughnut spots can survive in one place? 

The answer is none, at least at Suite 140 on 124 South 6th Street, which faces Carson Avenue. When O Face Doughnuts closed, the space became Donut Bar, which became the Donut Hole (a boutique concept by Carl’s Donuts). Eventually, it was just annexed by neighboring 

 and used as a much-needed dining room extension.

, Suite 140 at 616 E. Cason Ave. has been home to Zydeco Po-Boys, Two Bald Brothers (Greek), Bomb Taco, Santos Guisados, Madero Street Tacos (which also operated as a ghost kitchen for burgers and breakfast burritos), and is now 

, which might’ve found the right formula, serving brunch during the day and burgers at night.

Things come and go at Town Square all the time

, but the corner space at 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. seems especially troubled. It’s been the Meatball Spot (which 

), the Sugar Factory, and more than a few other businesses over the years. I recall some weird boozy pop-up there as well — possibly during Halloween. It’s in a busy area near the movie theater where the Yard House and Double Helix seem to do fine year after year. The spot is now 

, a chain for Filipino food that specializes in platters — making it a good place to sample 

great restaurants to fill the void after some old favorites closed

Location is everything when operating a restaurant — and some Las Vegas addresses are notoriously tough. 

Cursed Las Vegas Restaurant Locations

Is it a good time to get into the Vegas hospitality biz? Shifts are being 

. But don’t forget — leisure and hospitality is nearly a 

. The opportunities are still there. You just have to find ‘em.

). The school runs expedited programs in food service, kitchen work, bartending, and even housekeeping with the support and cooperation of the resort industry. If you’re short on funds, they’ll work it out. Nobody is turned away — and placement is a priority.

 is another top option for in-person and online courses for learning about service, kitchen, and bartending jobs.

 goes more in depth on wine, cocktails, and other drink categories with some of the most experienced people in the biz. If you want to be the best of the best, this helps 🍸

As for casino dealers, you can try your luck with the Sahara, which runs 

 (CEG), which has a history of working closely with Station Casinos for job placement.

Otherwise, use Google to shop around and compare options. Vegas has too many bartending and casino dealer schools to list here. For long-term education, 

 has programs for the culinary arts, food service, and management in hotels, gaming, and events.

You can’t just show up from Ohio with your suitcase and walk right into a service job. A 

 (for alcohol awareness) are required for serving food and drinks.

Some positions (like bartenders and casino dealers) require a 

 (work permit via Metro Police, possibly with an FBI background check), but that typically requires a referral after being accepted for a job.

Nobody wants to send out a resume cold. It’s best to have some kind of contact. Otherwise, the chances of getting your work experience past automated scanners can be slim. Whenever possible, hit a job fair. They happen in Vegas all the time. There’s one coming up on 

 with the likes of Caesars Entertainment, Station Casinos, Harry Reid International Airport, and dozens more in attendance.

I know this article only scratches the surface of what it takes to find a job in Las Vegas. Don’t be afraid to start small with a less-than-ideal position before working your way up. It could open the door to some much-needed experience and contacts for better opportunities down the line 👍

Getting a job in Las Vegas isn't easy. But we have some ideas and guidance on where to start.

How to Get a Job in Las Vegas at Restaurants, Hotels and Casinos

How to Get a Hospitality Job in Las Vegas

 has come and gone, giving Las Vegas its first big event of 2026 and handing all of us some things to mull over — and possibly worry about. Instead of gadgets I could really use — a leash to walk two dogs at the same time or an electronic mop that actually works — we’re getting even more of 

🫵 Artificial intelligence Is Here to Replace Everything … Including You

The most eye-opening moment of CES was an event called 

, which rented out the Sphere for CEOs of industry giants like Lenovo, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm to rave about their AI, which will “think like you” and “act like you” (“with your permission of course,” which was said several times). Long story short: You’ll give a digital “super agent” access to everything (work files, social media, etc.) while synergizing all devices, from phones to wearables.

A pendant that hangs around your neck, for example, might listen in (but not record) a conversation you had with a co-worker, then confer with you about it later. (#creepy)

Even for CES, there were way more robots than usual, threatening to take over any and all jobs in Las Vegas. We already know about 

🤔 Will Any of This Tech Actually Help Las Vegas?

I’ve seen the future — and it’s a 95% unemployment rate. But some tech could actually help us out. 

 is a wearable device that allows people to locate and communicate with each other without cell service or WiFi — useful at festivals like the Electric Daisy Carnival, which has notoriously spotty phone service. A robot can even be used to maximize space and quickly park cars nice and tight, side by side (kinda like machines do with packages in Amazon warehouses). Sounds handy, but I’m just worried it will encourage more 

Maybe Vegas can fend off the tourism slump with 

 (a close to real-time translation device that clones your voice), or wearable tech by 

 that produces alternating vibrations to cancel out stress after a long travel day.

 invited tech expert and AI skeptic Ed Zitron to share some thoughts on 

. If you listen carefully, you can actually hear him roll his eyes when I bring up some of the products and technology showcased at CES. It’s a lively conversation, so check it out 👍 [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

The Future or "Fraud" at CES?

My report card on what I learned at CES last week. 

Can Artificial Intelligence Actually Help Las Vegas?

By Vegas standards, 2026 is shaping up to be a relatively quiet year. (So quiet, we’re already skipping ahead to the wild stuff 

.) But a few projects are keeping the new year interesting.

 resort on the Strip isn’t opening until 2027, but the guitar-shaped hotel tower is coming along nicely and will reshape the skyline before the year is over. Meanwhile, the Cromwell is rebranding itself as the 

with a full makeover under the direction of TV star and restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump. (A reality show about any young, dumb, willing, and able employees is on my 

). Over in Henderson, Boyd Gaming is opening 

 next to Joker’s Wild (which will close and reopen after a renovation of its own).

🤠 Luke Combs is giving the Strip another country bar when 

 takes over the old Margaritaville space as part of an ongoing property-wide revamp at the Flamingo. And if you want less country and more EDM in your life, 

 should be ready in time for pool season in front of Caesars Palace.

 is shifting away from its “locals-focused” reputation and embracing tourists with a towering three-story location inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. 

, is returning from the dead at the Horseshoe.

 opened a year ago on the Strip, but doesn’t have much buzz or activity for something so big and shiny. That should change in 2026 as new bars and restaurants begin to make the third level more of a destination spot, beginning with the recently unveiled 

 in Vegas, it may be more cost-effective to 

 later this year. Zoox is already active at AREA15 and we’re excited to see the art and entertainment attraction 

, especially with the long-promised arrival of the 

🏆 The A’s stadium still has a few years to go (and some financing to finalize), but the team will actually 

 this summer at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Downtown Summerlin. While not as high profile as the Final Four in college basketball, the 

 comes to Las Vegas for the first time to determine the best in college hockey at the T-Mobile Arena. A different kind of sport — the 

 — explodes above the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in February, while the 

 say “it’s ok” to athletes on steroids at Resorts World in May.

🍜 Otherwise, we’ll see some excitement in the ‘burbs as 

 replaces the Sundry as the resident food hall at UnCommons in a busy corner of the Southwest that includes 

, which is adding more tenants soon, and an under-construction 

 fitness club. On the other side of town, Henderson welcomes 

, a new retail and dining plaza near Green Valley Ranch. And Chinatown will get things rolling on a 

 we’re looking forward to in 2026 — the return of an old-school bingo hall on the Strip at Circus Circus 🎪 According to 

Las Vegas will stay busy in 2026 with new casinos, restaurants, entertainment, and more. 

New Attractions Coming to Las Vegas in 2026

How Las Vegas Will Look Different in 2026

Step up to the window, pay a dollar or two, and have your fortune revealed by a card dispenser. 

 fortune-telling machines are famous around the world, but did you know each one is manufactured by 

The general public first met Zoltar in the 1988 Tom Hanks movie “Big” as a magical fortune-telling machine with special powers that may or may not have been inspired by 

Zoltan, a mechanical arcade game in the ‘60 and ‘70s

When the film became a hit, Characters Unlimited created a look-a-like called "the swami" with a turban, goatee, and gold vest. Founder Olaf Stanton later found out Zoltar was never trademarked by 20th Century Fox, so he claimed the rights for himself in 2006.

”We started making our own version of Zoltar that moves and talks,” Stanton says. “The one in the movie simply opened his mouth and had no arms. It was cool, but it was never a working fortune teller sold to the public. It was a one-off movie prop.”

Characters Unlimited creates life-sized characters — like cowboys and pirates — often with mechanical features. Before Zoltar came along, the company had a similar mechanical fortune-telling machine featuring a pioneer, so the evolution made sense.

Around 2,000 Zoltar machines have been produced over the years and more than 500 are currently doing business around the world, including Vegas tourist spots like Circus Circus, the Bonanza gift shop, and the Fremont Street Experience. Some machines are bought outright. Others operate as part of a revenue-sharing program, similar to how vending machines generate income.

“We sold 20 Zoltar machines to Carnival Cruise lines last year,” Stanton says. The deluxe model is the best seller, running $9,950 a pop, although custom creations are big business too. (You may have seen an 

Characters Unlimited also makes money licensing the Zoltar name and image for products that range from slot machines and lottery tickets to toys, t-shirts, and wine (with a fortune revealed by a peel-away card on the label).

You can see some of those items at the Characters Unlimited gift shop in Boulder City, which may begin official tours in the near future. Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to make a wish or seek a glimpse into the future the next time you come across a Zoltar machine — like I recently did when walking through the Boulevard Mall.

”Over 2 million Zoltar fortunes are told a year,” Stanton says.

How are you feeling about the future these days?

The Zoltar Fortune Telling Machine is Made in Boulder City

Zoltar: A Fortune Teller’s Journey from ‘Big’ to Boulder City

Halloween is Friday. Do you have a good costume? Are you ready for trick-or-treaters? Don’t worry about that stuff now. Just take 

 on the scariest encounters you can experience in Las Vegas.

What Is The Spookiest, Scariest Thing In Las Vegas?

Plastic surgery tuneups on Strip performers

It's Halloween week, and you can vote on the scariest places, people and encounters in Las Vegas.

business

How POP’S Got Vegas Hooked on Round-the-Clock Cheesesteaks

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

Las Vegas Is Mad About Mushrooms

Latest articles

How POP’S Got Vegas Hooked on Round-the-Clock Cheesesteaks

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

Las Vegas Is Mad About Mushrooms

How the Man Who Popularized Bingo Failed to Capitalize on Vegas Gambling

Cursed Las Vegas Restaurant Locations

How to Get a Hospitality Job in Las Vegas

Can Artificial Intelligence Actually Help Las Vegas?

Latest articles

How the Man Who Popularized Bingo Failed to Capitalize on Vegas Gambling

Cursed Las Vegas Restaurant Locations

How to Get a Hospitality Job in Las Vegas

Can Artificial Intelligence Actually Help Las Vegas?

How Las Vegas Will Look Different in 2026

Zoltar: A Fortune Teller’s Journey from ‘Big’ to Boulder City

Take Our Poll: What Do You Fear in Las Vegas?