Zombies in Las Vegas?

Zombies … long dead corpses that have been re-animated and walk amongst us. It was inevitable that if there are zombies out there, they'd head for Las Vegas. We'd seen ads for the Zombie Burlesque, after all. If they're starring in burlesque shows, you gotta know there are more of them out there. I've tried a zombie cocktail in the past, but we've never met a real zombie … only seen them in movies. You know, Night of the Living Dead and World War Z among others. It was time we met a few. We headed to the Zombie Apocalypse Store. When I say Las Vegas has everything, I really mean it. Where else would you go?

Okay, I readily admit I'm a wimp when it comes to horror movies and scary stuff. I close my eyes during the gory parts, which for some movies ends up being for an hour or more. Still, I was interested in seeing what was on offer and besides, David was there to protect me. I confess I had to refer to the Zombiepedia and do a little research before heading there. I like to be prepared.

When we arrived, there were zombies in the parking lot which had obviously been killed and sent to the taxidermist because though they were life-like, they were quite stiff and I felt confident enough to have my picture taken with one. After all, this is a survival store. Where better to be audacious?

Bob greeted us when we entered, gave me permission to take pictures and showed us around. There's lots to see … everything from all things Zombie souvenirs to survival gear including gas masks, body armor and ammunition … the real thing. There were Zombie killer knives and Zombie killer brain saws and hammers. I didn't feel too guilty about killing them since they were already dead once. Using a brain saw might be out of the question for me though.

We chuckled over the some of the book titles. There was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. And the classic children's book … Pat the Zombie. Then there was the bumper sticker: Humans … the Other White Meat.

For 75 cents, David had a chance to shoot some zombies. He was good … 14 hits … very reassuring for when the apocalypse descends upon us.

We also could have incinerated a zombie for $1, but 14 zombie kills in one day seemed more than enough for novices. All in all, a fun diversion although it might not be appropriate for young kids.

My research indicates that Nevada is the 8^th most likely of the US states to survive a zombie apocalypse. That's not bad, but knowing that we're heading back to Australia and out to sea in a few weeks is such a relief! I've got it on good authority that zombies don't sail or swim!

Downtown Las Vegas Container Park

We keep discovering new things to see and do in Las Vegas. I mean how can you drive by a giant praying mantis and not want to figure out why it's there?  

It seems the Las Vegas Downtown Container Park is constructed of … well, it's constructed of shipping containers … big ones ... like the kind you see on cargo ships or being hauled by trailer trucks. Containers not only form the perimeter of the park, but they're also stacked on top of each other and some are even end to end. It's crazy, but it seems to work in this unique setting on Fremont Street East, a block or two east from the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian mall. We came upon it quite by accident when leaving downtown the other night and decided to revisit during the day.

First off, let's talk about that giant praying mantis that caught our attention in the first place. When extended, it reaches a height of 40' … I told you it was big! It was constructed by a local aerospace engineer as a first anniversary present for his wife (really?). It's motorized and has participated in a few local events. Each evening, there's a “Call to the Mantis” ceremony and it shoots flames in the air from its antennae. How's that for absurd excitement?

Back to the park itself. The containers are open on one side and each houses a shop. There are boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, fine arts stores and more. There's even a barber housed in an old train caboose. Free concerts are presented on the covered stage and a summer evening film fest is in full swing.

There's interesting stuff for kids (of all ages) to do. There's a giant tree house in the middle of the park with lots of stairs and passages and slides that look like they'd be really fun. We were tempted, but we didn't try the slides.

There's also a Neon 360 high-tech electronic playground game for individuals or teams that provides some aerobic exercise and is fun at the same time. Younger kids would enjoy the big foam building blocks in the center of the fenced playground area.

I love stumbling upon things like this. An unexpected pleasure worth sharing … and there are so many of them out there.

Downtown Las Vegas - 10 Things to See and Do on the Cheap

When I think of Las Vegas, I think of the frenetic, shoulder-to-shoulder, opulent, delightfully decadent, 2-1/2 mile stretch of real estate known simply as The Strip. Downtown Las Vegas … the birthplace of it all … does not come to mind. Downtown Las Vegas, aka Vintage Vegas, (which is actually in Las Vegas, unlike most of the Strip) has a kind of an old-time, wild west feel to it which gives it a flavor and an allure all its own. The Fremont Street Experience is where most visitors begin and end their exploration, but wandering around the area and through the older casinos has its own rewards.  

Here then is our list of 10 things to see and do on the cheap in Downtown Las Vegas.

1. The Fremont Street Experience is probably the central highlight of the downtown area and it's free. It's a covered, four-block long, pedestrian mall crammed full of restaurants, bars, casinos, souvenir shops and entertainment. Its canopy is the world's largest video screen and regularly scheduled evening Viva Vision light shows are fun, free and definitely worth a visit. It reportedly has 12.5 million lights and 550,000 watts of sound. Just look up! By the way, there are buskers galore, but watch out. If you want to take a picture, it'll cost you.

2. While you're on Fremont Street, check out all the classic neon signs. There's Vegas Vic, the world's largest mechanical neon sign (though he's not very mechanical any more). Just down the way from Vic is Vegas Vickie aka Sassy Sally, Vic's longtime girlfriend (and now wife, they were married in the mid-1990s) who sits atop Glitter Gulch, next to the Golden Goose. An old prospector pans for sparkling gold and sits atop a souvenir shop at 323 Fremont.

3. We're not gamblers, but we kind of enjoy playing the slots if it's with the casino's money. Pick up a player's card at any of the casinos and see what's on offer for new players. Sometimes it's a match play (You bet $10 and they'll match it); sometimes you need to accumulate points to earn your free play and other times, it's totally free. Read the fine print.

4. Visit the Golden Gate Casino. It's the oldest casino in Las Vegas, opened in 1906 and originally known as the Hotel Nevada. It's had a recent facelift and offers boutique rooms. The draw is its historical significance and the fact that this hotel introduced the first shrimp cocktail in Las Vegas in 1959 for 50 cents. It's still available at the 1950's diner-themed Du-Par's Restaurant & Bakery and advertised as “The best tail in town.” Served in a sundae glass chock full of shrimp and cocktail sauce, it's quite a bargain, though the price has gone up to $2.99. The pies and baked goods at Du-Pars are worth a look. A little trivia … the Hotel Nevada was assigned Las Vegas' first telephone with the number 1.

5. Binion's Casino was established by Texas gambler, Benny Binion, in 1951. They have a million dollars encased in a plastic pyramid on display. You can have your picture taken there next to the pile of loot for free.

6. The Golden Nugget touts the world's largest gold nugget on display. It's also the largest ever found with a metal detector. The nugget is kind of hidden away behind the hotel elevators, but it's worth a look. Named the Hand of Faith, because of its shape, it was discovered in 1980 by Kevin Hillier in Victoria, Australia. It weighs 60 pounds (27.21kg) and was purchased by the Golden Nugget for a reported $1M. Another draw of the Golden Nugget is its 13-story waterslide which careens through the center of a huge shark tank. It's usually only open to hotel guests or with an admission fee. We looked from afar.

7. The Heart Attack Grill is on the far east end of the Fremont Street pedestrian mall at Las Vegas Boulevard. We weren't interested in eating their proclaimed high fat, high calorie, high cholesterol burgers or shakes, but it was worth a peek inside. All the wait staff are dressed as nurses and you have to wear a hospital johnny to be admitted. It's irreverent, a bit raunchy and unhealthy and definitely Las Vegas.

8. There's a chunk of the Berlin Wall at the Victorian-themed Main Street Station Casino. It's sheathed in plastic behind the urinals in the men's room (thank goodness for the sheathing). Taking a photo proved to be a challenge for David since a guy walking into the Men's Room with a camera is somewhat suspect. We're told you can ask a security guard to take you in, but it was too busy when we were there to attempt it. Instead, we nicked a photo off the internet, but David can attest to the fact that it's there.

9. We visited the Mob Museum on a separate trip downtown and would recommend it for some good historical background on organized crime in Las Vegas. It's only open during the day, so check the hours and admission fees.

10. Although it's not within walking distance of Fremont Street, if you have wheels, don't forget the Neon Museum just down the road on Las Vegas Boulevard. If you plan to visit, it's best at night when the lights are all aglow. We thought the museum admission was a bit high, but took the free driving tour to see some of the preserved vintage Vegas neon signs.

Some helpful hints:

1. Visit at a non-holiday time if you want to avoid the crowds. Sundays are great … not as crowded, but everything is still open.
2. Park your car … free with casino validation for 3 hours or so OR $3 all day Sunday-Thursday at Main Street Station. We prefer covered parking to an open lot if we plan to be there all day.
3. No bottles or glass are allowed on Fremont Street. Decant your drinks into a plastic cup before heading onto the pedestrian mall. Yes, you can walk around with alcoholic beverages.
4. Get a player's card at the different casinos for some free play, discounts or gifts.
5. Safety issues – if you plan to wander outside the main Fremont Street area, do it during the day. Some of the downtown areas are pretty seedy. Be aware that in large crowds, any time of day, pockets can be picked and things stolen. Don't set down your purse, backpack or camera unattended. (No different than the Strip or any other crowded public area).
6. If you'd prefer, you can park at Sam's Town on the east side of Las Vegas and take the free shuttle bus downtown. You'll a need a Sam's Town player's card for the free lift.Okay, okay … so you're getting sick of hearing about Las Vegas, but we're here and there's lots to see and share. That said, we're getting ready for our departure back to cold, rainy Western Australia. We're trying to figure out how to capture some of this desert heat and bring it back with us to enjoy on Nine of Cups. Any suggestions?